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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. Howie describes all these "disruptions of physical routines" EXCEPT one.

2. What does Howie call his theory for shoelace wearing?

3. Howie only likes to use straws for _________.

4. What does Howie purchase as a reward for making his garbage truck realization?

5. What does Howie give a historical footnote to in Chapter 6?

Short Essay Questions

1. Howie does Howie's shoelace break?

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

3. What is Howie's reaction to his shoelace breaking at work?

4. How does Howie celebrate what he considers to be the realization that he is an adult?

5. Why has Howie mostly given up drinking milk?

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the meaning behind the title of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

What is the climax of the book in Chapter 14? How does this tiny moment define the entire novel?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the purpose of the character L. Why does she never actually physically appears in the narrative? How does she help create the roundness of Howie's character?

(see the answer keys)

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