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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. Why does the author quote Mr. Glendenning in Chapter 9?

2. What is described in Chapter 10?

3. Why is Lane outside of the office in Chapter 16?

4. How does Claude travel in Chapter 2?

5. Why doesn't Dean break up with his girlfriend in Chapter 6?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Wallace have to watch the interviews in Chapter 14?

2. In Chapter 10, how does the author explain the existence of the bureaucratic systems he describes?

3. How do the girl and her mother get away in Chapter 8?

4. What is the purpose of Chapter 11?

5. In Chapter 13, what problem does the main character suffer from?

6. How does Stecyk change from Chapter 12 to Chapter 14?

7. What makes Chapter 20 confusing in the construction of this novel?

8. In Chapter 5, how is the boy described?

9. Why does Dean marry Sheri in Chapter 6?

10. In the beginning of this novel, how does Claude feel about his job?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider the use of nick names and code words in the IRS. What do these terms suggest about the agency? What do they reveal about the IRS employees? How do they influence the setting of the IRS REC?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the use of post-modernism techniques. Consider the unique text layouts, formats, footnotes, columns, interviews, etc. How do these textual features affect the development of this novel?

Essay Topic 3

Research the IRS to compare the IRS details in the novel to the truth. Why might the author have maintained some facts and disregarded others?

(see the answer keys)

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