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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. Where does Cleveland park his motorcycle?

2. In what type of place does Cleveland live?

3. Where does Art wait for Cleveland for their meeting?

4. What does Cleveland steal from the house?

5. What type of food does Art eat for lunch with Arthur?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Art feeling during the time he has an affair with Arthur in the weather woman's apartment?

2. What is the irony revealed when Arthur's mother comes to the apartment with mended clothes?

3. How does Art end up alienating both Phlox and Arthur?

4. When do Art and Arthur first have sex?

5. What seems to be Art's routine of how he spends his days and nights this summer?

6. Explain how Art's lack of real friendship in his life has driven him to behave the way he does with Cleveland, Phlox and Arthur.

7. What is a recurring motif in the story?

8. When does Art realize what his true feelings are for Arthur?

9. How does Art still struggle with his sexuality?

10. What is the symbolism of the cicadas for Art's life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

THE MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH is a classic story of the search for love. What does that classification entail? Why does this story fit into this category? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

What is the role of Cleveland's character in the book? Why did the author choose to insert him into the story? Do you think Art and the other characters are better off or not for Cleveland's presence in the story? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Project into the future ten years after the end of the book and write a brief synopsis for the lives of Art, Arthur and Phlox. Be sure to incorporate personal, political and cultural impacts on the characters' lives.

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This section contains 967 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample