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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 habit of L's does Howie find revolting?

2. Howie's fifth major advance has to do with _____.

3. What does Howie decline from the clerk at Papa Gino's?

4. What car company does Howie consider to do a good job with knobs?

5. Where does Howie have a distinct memory of riding an escalator with his mom?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the theory that Howie calls the "walking-flexion" model?

2. What does Howie notice about his shoes as he reties them in Chapter 4?

3. Why does Howie purchase a milk carton at Papa Gino's?

4. What are Howie's thoughts on shopping bags?

5. What are Howie's observations about shoes and feet at work?

6. Why does Howie consider the purchase of a rubber stamp to be one of his advancements?

7. What does breaking his shoelace remind Howie of?

8. What is awkward about Howie trying to sign the poster Tina has gotten for Ray the janitor?

9. Why has Howie mostly given up drinking milk?

10. What does Howie mean by "vibratiuncles of comparison"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the symbolic significance of both the shoelaces and how Howie resolves the mystery of the shoelace breakage?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss both the narrative tone and structure of this story and their impact on the reader's experience.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the metaphorical significance of the escalator and how it is used as a vehicle of thought throughout the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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