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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 years are covered in Part One, Chapter One, when Simon's story is focused upon?

2. The Hindu family in the Gold family's building calls the fortune teller a "rishika" (5), which means a what?

3. In what type of venue does Klara NOT perform her act during her early days as a magician?

4. Before Gertie met Saul, it is said by the narrator that she had wanted to be a what?

5. Where is Klara performing when Simon sees her act for the first time?

Short Essay Questions

1. What aspects of Robert's character are depicted as those that make him "stand out" (59) to Simon?

2. How do the Purp employees and owners react to the news of Harvey Milk's assassination and how do they take action?

3. What does the narrator mean when describing Simon's impression of the Castro district as being like a "fallout shelter" (79)?

4. What is the significance of Klara's feelings about the phenomenon of red tide?

5. What evidence does the author provide for the claim that the Gold children in 1969 "are siblings, this summer, in a way they never will be again" (4)?

6. How is repetition employed within the opening passage of Part Two:Proteus and to what effect?

7. What is the author's purpose for using the allusion to The Statue of Liberty when depicting the children's grandfather Lev?

8. Describe the significance of Simon's dream about salmon and how it relates to his mindset at the time of his dream.

9. When the narrator reveals that Raj has "big plans" (113) for overhauling Klara's act, what kind of changes does the narrator depict?

10. What differences between Robert and Simon does the author depict as those that drive Simon to cheat on Robert?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the novel's message concerning the link between fate and free will?

Essay Topic 2

What is the function of Klara's character within the novel? Discuss the characterization methods used by the author in depicting Klara and include in your discussion the reasons that the author portrays her in these particular ways.

Essay Topic 3

Write a critical essay about the novel while using the critical power theory lens of feminist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the novel's treatment of gender roles, the objectification of women, female empowerment, misogyny's role within society, or any other issues related to feminist theory that can be found in the book.

(see the answer keys)

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