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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 does Ricky say he doesn't do?

2. What is Badger's nickname for Gerald?

3. What is the name of Lord Kessler's estate?

4. Who hosts a piano concert first that inspires Gerald to do the same, according to Nick?

5. What is aichmophobia?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the Maltby scandal?

2. What does Nick say he plans on studying in graduate school?

3. Who is Norman Kent?

4. Describe Gerald's postcard to Nick.

5. What bothers Nick about being called a "twit" by Leo?

6. Why does Nick name the company Ogee?

7. What does Nick ask Ricky to pretend?

8. Why is the painting in the Charles home the kind of painting that Nick likes least?

9. Why doesn't Nick like Strauss?

10. Why doesn't Lady Partridge like Pat Crowther?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Is Nick a hero or an unreliable narrator? Does the reader have sympathy for him as a character? Explain why or why not using examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

One of the concepts of the "line of beauty" is the ogee arch. Explain the symbolism of the ogee and find examples of when this image appears in the text. What does the ogee mean to Nick? What about the Ogee company? How does its curve reflect the highs and lows of the plot?

Essay Topic 3

Explore the use of euphemism in the text. What major things are never talked about and which seemingly problematic issues are discussed? How does this reveal the cultural sensibilities of the characters?

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