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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 is the source of the contention between Arthur and Abdullah?

2. What has Art just completed?

3. What are Art's feelings about Pittsburgh?

4. How can Cleveland's father be described?

5. What does Phlox think about Arthur's homosexuality?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author indicate that Art may have had an emotional breakdown at one point?

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

3. What is the story of Cleveland's family?

4. What is Art's perspective on his education and his upcoming summer?

5. What information does Art Bechstein, the protagonist, provide at the beginning of THE MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH?

6. How do the precipice and the cloud factory symbolize Art's fantasies for his new life?

7. How does the author show Phlox's opinion of Arthur's sexuality?

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

9. Why are Cleveland's antics a source of possible problems for Art?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theme of struggling with personal identity is an important one in this book. Describe how it extends through setting, character and issues and provide examples for each.

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

Create a character study of Phlox. What are her physical characteristics? What motivates her? What are her fears? What are her dreams? What else can you say about Phlox?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 978 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample