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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 show does Howie order a transcript from because he disagreed with one of the interviewees?

2. Who is Howie sending a memo to right before going to lunch?

3. Howie believes some brain cells need to die in order to gain _______.

4. What possession of Howie's is stolen?

5. What purchase does Howie always need a bag for?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Where is Howie when he believes that his great period of growth as a human has ended?

4. How does Howie describe the experience of opening a package of shirts from the dry cleaners?

5. What were the "systems of local transport" that Howie liked as a child?

6. What thoughts about bread does Howie have while riding the subway?

7. How many of Howie's escalator memories come from his childhood?

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

9. What is the treat that Howie gives himself after making a resolution to not get carried away by nostalgia?

10. Why has Howie mostly given up drinking milk?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare Howie and Marcus Aurelius. What is the significance of Howie's fascination with Aurelius?

Essay Topic 2

What is the meaning behind the title of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

What profound insight does Howie achieve through his stream of consciousness while riding the subway? Could he have had this same insight without the constant stream of trivial thoughts? Is his realization truly profound, transcending the triviality of his mundane thoughts?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 662 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample