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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. Who is the blurry recording of that is featured on the Shooting Stars finale in Chapter 21?

2. What band does Kat play on Cal's cassette player in Chapter 17?

3. What model of spacecraft does Cal describe his father taking out from storage in Chapter 17?

4. Where did Leon live before his family moved to Texas?

5. What caused the death of Cal's maternal aunt?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the Shooting Stars episodes begin to change in tone by Chapter 18?

2. What has been the public response to Cal's video in Chapter 27?

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

4. Why does Leon feel upset at the celebration party in Chapter 17?

5. What does Kiara say to Cal at the airport in Chapter 18?

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss pop-culture allusions and references in The Gravity of Us. What bands, musicians, celebrities, and artists are referenced in the novel? Why? What references are made to contemporary politicians and companies? What is their significance?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss Cal's character arc in The Gravity of Us. How does Cal change from the beginning of the novel to the end? What events and characters evoke these changes? How has Cal's perspective evolved in the course of the story?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss Cal's relationship with Deb. How do Cal and Deb know one another? How is their history described? How does their relationship change in the course of the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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