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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. Which of the following do Art, Arthur and Cleveland NOT do at the summer house?

2. What does Art feel when he sees Arthur and Phlox walking down the street?

3. Where does Art work during the day?

4. Why did Mrs. Bellwether once beat the collie?

5. What does Art think Phlox looks like when she emerges from the bathroom?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the environment at the bookstore.

2. What are some of the phases that Phlox goes through in her life?

3. Who is Happy?

4. What two landmarks does Art mention as places he visits often?

5. Why is Art's life filled with secrets?

6. How does Art meet Phlox?

7. How does Art get to meet Cleveland?

8. Describe this period of "dilated time" in Art's life.

9. What does Cleveland do to get back at Jane's parents?

10. What is the first intimate interlude between Art and Arthur?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the significance of the book's title--THE MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH. Why did Chabon choose this title? Is there an understood message in the title? Or is the author just having fun with the reader?

Essay Topic 2

The search for love seems to be an unnamed character in the book. How pervasive is this longing for love? Why does it have such a prevalent place in the characters' lives? Explain how an inanimate object or characteristic can be a character.

Essay Topic 3

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of love. Identify at least two themes about love in the book. Then cite an example to support each theme you name.

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This section contains 948 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample