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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 year of school is Steve in?

2. What is Lauren's major at college?

3. Where does Lauren bump into her post-modern professor, who confronts her about not attending the study-groups for his class?

4. What is the name of the hotel where Paul travels to meet his mother?

5. Who compares the end of the night at a party to being picked for gym class?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the opening scene of the novel?

2. Why does Lauren feel guilty about having sex with Franklin at a party?

3. How does Sean react when Paul meets him to apologize for missing their date?

4. Who is Henry, and why is he depressed about his life?

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

6. What happens when the unnamed narrator of the novel decides that she would like to lose her virginity?

7. What type of relationship does Lauren have with her parents?

8. What event prevents Paul from meeting Sean for their "date"?

9. According to Paul's perspective of the evening, what happened when Sean leaves the party and comes back to his house?

10. Who does Paul meet on the bus on the way to Boston?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Paul hears that his parents are getting divorced, he has two reactions: an initial reaction and a delayed reaction. First, describe the two reactions Paul has to the news of the divorce. Why do you think his reactions differ so greatly? Then, explain how the news of his parents' divorce affects the way Paul views the romances in his own life? Do you think the news of his parents' divorce muddles Paul's view of love or gives him greater clarity? Why?

Essay Topic 2

At the opening of the novel, both Lauren and Sean have sexual partners that embarrass them, Steve and Deirdre. First, explain why Lauren is embarrassed of Steve and compare/contrast this to the embarrassment Sean feels about Deirdre. Based on the embarrassments of these two characters, what can the reader assume is most important in the relationships of these young characters?

Essay Topic 3

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.

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