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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. In the non-italicized section of Chapter 1, what is Long John's nickname for Bobby?

2. In the non-italicized section of Chapter 4, what does Bobby's sister say is buried in their paternal grandmother's house?

3. In the non-italicized section of Chapter 3, who does Oiler say came calling on him?

4. In the non-italicized section of Chapter 1, what is Bobby's job?

5. In the italicized section of Chapter 1, what mathematical term does the Kid accuse the girl of calling him?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the Kid feel about almost all the acts that he brings up? How does he generally end them that gives a clue as to how he feels?

2. After talking to Oiler about Venezuela, what does Bobby notice about his apartment?

3. Of the Kid's cohorts, who is the only one that the girl cares about? Why does the kid not summon her for the girl?

4. Who is the bathless one and what does he do?

5. How does the fire start in Bianca's apartment?

6. Does Bobby find anything on his search of the cluster of islands?

7. What does Oiler say that he regrets the most about his time in Vietnam?

8. Where does Bobby move in after taking all his belongings out of his apartment?

9. How does the Kid talk? What is the reader's impression of the Kid from the ways he talks and the language that he uses.

10. What does Debussy go home to tell her mother about?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does this book say about beauty? What does beauty represent in this book? How is beauty connected to reality? How is beauty connected to the deep heart of number which may only exist as unreality or subconscious? How are math and physics related to beauty? Can beauty be detrimental to those who are taken in by it? How so?

Essay Topic 2

What is your experience of Alicia's conversation with Miss Vivian about the crying babies? What are the different reasons that Alicia and Miss Vivian give for why the babies are crying? Do any of these reasons seem plausible? What do babies represent for humans? What does it mean for babies, who are so vulnerable and innocent to be beset by dangers or be filled with some deep dislike for their surroundings? What do you think the point is of this conversation? Does it have a point? How does it make you feel as a reader?

Essay Topic 3

What do you think of Kline as a character? How is Kline a foil for John Sheddan? What aspect of the author does Kline represent?

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