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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 coded the link on Cal's channel to assist viewers in sharing the videos and contacting representatives?

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

3. Where did Cal's mom go to feel close to her sister after she passed away in Brooklyn?

4. What does Kat do in the end of Chapter 17?

5. Where does Deb say she is staying with her cousin in Chapter 21?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do Cal and his mother go to the Tucker house in Chapter 14?

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

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

4. How is Cal's fame described on the Shooting Stars finale in Chapter 21?

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

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

7. What is revealed about the hiring of Cal's father on the Shooting Stars finale in Chapter 21?

8. How have Deb's circumstances changed in Chapter 21?

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

10. How does Cal's father describe the political views of those against funding for the Orpheus project in Chapter 19?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the topic of mental health as it is depicted in the novel. What characters struggle with mental health? How? What ways do these characters seek to improve their mental health? What do you think the author's intentions are in addressing this topic?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss the plot structure of The Gravity of Us. What is the inciting action of the plot? Where does the climax occur? What information is revealed in the falling action and denouement of the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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