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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. How old was Howie when he would deliberately leave his shoes untied on escalators?

2. At the beginning of Chapter 12, Howie says he is standing in a _______ pose on the escalator.

3. What else does Howie buy along with his purchase of shoelaces?

4. Howie discovers that the authors Lecky, Boswell and Gibbon loved ___________

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What activity does Howie describe that both he and L take part in when alone in an elevator?

4. What does Abe jokingly claim to Howie while they talk in the men's room?

5. What realization about his broken shoelace does Howie come to while washing his face in the men's bathroom?

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

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

8. What is Howie's dilemma in the men's bathroom?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the significance of the very brief last chapter of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

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

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)

This section contains 750 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample