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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 job does Howie speculate that he will not be able to stand?

2. What does Howie watch as he eats popcorn and walks to CVS?

3. Howie compares the sunlight landing on parts of the office lobby to __________.

4. Howie compares the products at CVS to the products at what other store?

5. What does Howie consider to be unprofessional behavior in the men's bathroom?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What are some of the differences Howie notices between corporate bathrooms and home bathrooms?

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

4. What does Howie note that he is surprised about in the men's bathroom?

5. Who does Howie see in the bathroom engaging in what he considers to be poor bathroom etiquette?

6. What observations does Howie make about his Revere saucepan?

7. What does Howie consider to be the dishonesty of the World Dryer Corporation?

8. How can Howie reach a majority of adult thoughts?

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

10. What are some of the odd personal habits of various philosophers that Howie describes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the aesthetic distance created in the novel and the reader's experience of spending the entire time inside Howie's thoughts.

Essay Topic 2

Is Howie a purveyor of truths that are too often ignored? Or is he a self-centered young man who spends too much time wrapped up in his own thoughts? Does Howie have redeeming characteristics.

Essay Topic 3

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

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This section contains 734 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample