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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What house does Cal say he got on the Hogwarts House quiz in Chapter 18?

2. When does Cal set the recording with Carmela to air live in Chapter 24?

3. Where does Cal's mom say they will be flying in a few days to see a satellite launch in Chapter 17?

4. What does Cal suggest Deb do for income in Chapter 27?

5. Who does Cal get to conspire with him against StarWatch in Chapter 14?

Short Essay Questions

1. What news do Cal and Leon learn while they are out together in Chapter 16? What does this news mean?

2. Who does Cal interview first at NASA in Chapter 24? What does this character talk about?

3. Who is Tori and why is she important in the narrative?

4. What launch does Cal go to observe in Chapter 18? Why is it important?

5. What image is flashed on the screen during the rocket launch on Shooting Stars in Chapter 21? How does Cal react?

6. What cassette tape does Cal find in his room in Chapter 25? What does it signify?

7. What does Cal decide to do in order to reconcile with Deb in Chapter 22? Why does he change his mind?

8. What does Cal do in Chapter 15 to "out" StarWatch?

9. Who is the guest on the Shooting Stars' online content featured at the end of Chapter 23? What is the interview about?

10. What happens at the launch in Chapter 19? What does this foreshadow?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss three examples of foreshadowing in the novel. What event is foreshadowed? How does the author indicate this event? Does the author make use of red herrings in the narrative? How do these examples serve the text?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Cal's actions against StarWatch in The Gravity of Us. Why does Cal take offense at StarWatch and the way the network portrays the astronauts and their families? Who does Cal solicit to help him expose StarWatch? What becomes of StarWatch at the end of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the character of Kat in The Gravity of Us. What is Kat's primary role in the plot of the story? How does Kat serve as a foil to Leon? What important actions does Kat take in the course of the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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