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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 kind of film is Pat Hobby working on in "Boil Some Water--Lots of It"?

2. In "A Man in the Way," from where does the young woman get her idea?

3. How does Pat get the visitors onto the set of a film in "Pat Hobby, Putative Father"?

4. What does the executive in "A Man in the Way" tell Pat to do?

5. What is the name of the secretary in "Pat Hobby's Christmas Wish"?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Pat react to Rene Wilcox in "Teamed With Genius"?

2. How does "Boil Some Water--Lots of It" touch on the theme of respect?

3. In "Pat Hobby, Putative Father," what does Pat's son offer him and on what condition?

4. How does Pat stoop to a new low in "Teamed With Genius"?

5. How does Woll die in "Pat Hobby's Secret"?

6. What is the biggest example of Pat's unluckiness in "Pat Hobby, Putative Father"?

7. How does Pat show his darker side in "A Man in the Way"?

8. In "Pat Hobby and Orson Welles," what shows Pat's desperation, and why is he desperate?

9. What happens when Pat directs the chauffeur to Shirley Temple's house in "The Homes of the Stars"?

10. In "Teamed With Genius," what does everyone else predict about Pat, and how do they anticipate his actions?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "Fun in an Artist's Studio," the theme of humiliation runs throughout the story. How is the theme of humiliation reflected in the story? How does the theme of humiliation affect Pat? Remember to answer each question with support from the story.

Essay Topic 2

"Pat Hobby's Christmas Wish" carries a theme of kinship between two people who feel similarly unsympathetic feelings toward Gooddorf for different reasons. How do Pat and Helen bond? What are their feelings about Gooddorf, and how does this create a connection between the two of them? Remember to answer each question with support from the story.

Essay Topic 3

In "Pat Hobby's Christmas Wish," Pat finds out a secret and attempts blackmail in order to get a better job. Describe the situation in which Pat tries to blackmail someone. How is the theme of desperation reflected in this story? Cite a few examples of how the theme of desperation is reflected in the story. Remember to answer each question with support from the story.

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