View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How much did Howie pay for popcorn?

2. Howie sees the design flaw in escalators as the steps being ______.

3. Who gets the get-well poster for Ray at work?

4. What does Howie do with the last ten minutes of his lunch break?

5. Howie compares vending machines to _______.

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the four thoughts that Howie has in quick succession at the end of Chapter 12?

2. Howie does Howie think his corporation flaunts their status?

3. What does Howie notice as he rushes out the revolving door and onto the plaza for his lunch break?

4. What are Howie's reflections on the overall safety of escalators?

5. What attracted Howie to the Aurelius book?

6. Why does Howie need to purchase earplugs every week?

7. Why does Howie eventually stop trying to walk up or down the escalator?

8. What does Howie note about eating and drinking at the same time?

9. What does Howie consider to be the quintessential question about lunch hours?

10. What causes Howie to consider the intentions of the inventors of the escalator?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What larger point about society is Howie making in his comparison of CVS and Crate and Barrel? How does this apply to overall themes in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 703 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample