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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 does Mitchell leave on Paul's bed the morning after they have sex?

2. What is the name of the family friends that will be joining Paul's mother on her little vacation?

3. What color boxer shorts does Sean wear, a color Paul frequently teases him about?

4. How does Sean feel when Candice and Mitchell go home together after the party?

5. Who does Judy start dating after she hears the truth about Lauren and Franklin?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Lauren spend the majority of the party pining over her boyfriend Victor?

2. What type of relationship did Sean used to have with the hippie he once dated?

3. What is the significance of the quote "when the sun sets"?

4. How does Mitchell treat Paul after the first time they sleep together?

5. According to Sean's perspective of the evening, what happens when he leaves the party and goes back to Paul's house?

6. How does Victor pass the time during his European vacation?

7. What does the mystery girl think is going to happen when she attends the "Dressed to Get Screwed" party?

8. What happens when Victor meets some Yugoslavian men during his vacation?

9. Why does Sean think that Lauren is the girl leaving love notes in his mailbox?

10. How does Paul react when he hears that someone is dropping love notes in Sean's mailbox?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lauren is a girl with a trouble past, particularly in regard to her parents. First, explain what type of relationship Lauren has with her parents and how this relationship feeds into her insecurities. Then, explain how Lauren's relationship with her parents affects her personal decisions particularly in regard to her romantic life.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, the reader sees glimpses into Sean's romantic history, including stories of many ex-girlfriends. First, create a time line of significant romantic relationships in Sean's life and the lessons he learned from each one. Then, use the time line to explain Sean's treatment of Lauren, particularly at the end of their relationship. Do you think Sean's behavior in his relationship with Lauren was inevitable? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Many of the characters in this novel can be seen as escapists, meaning that they escape the truth of their lives through various vices. First, create a list of methods through which characters escape their lives. Then, give at least one example of a character who successfully escapes the truth of their life and compare/contrast that experience to another character who does not succeed in escaping the truth of their lives. What do you think Ellis's overall message about escapism is in this novel?

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