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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. How does Morelli find out Stephanie's performing a stake-out on Kenny?

2. Does Stephanie get mad at Morelli when she learns he has concealed Andy Roche's purpose?

3. Who is grotesquely interested in the contents of the package Stephanie receives from her building superintendent?

4. What does Stephanie claim the other women in her family have that she does not?

5. What meal does Morelli eat with Stephanie's family at the beginning of Chapter Fourteen?

Short Essay Questions

1. Mrs. Plum is suddenly on Stephanie's side and wants her to succeed at capturing Kenny. Why?

2. Describe the type of style the women in the 'Burg aspire to. Does caring about beauty and fashion make them seem oppressed?

3. When Grandma Mazur is attacked, this hurts Stephanie more than if she were attacked. Why?

4. How does Stephanie physically describe the women in her family and how does this match up with their character?

5. Stephanie cannot catch Kenny because she is wearing a sexy pair of high heels. What does this symbolize?

6. In Chapter Thirteen, Stephanie uses Grandma Mazur as a weapon against Vinnie. How does Grandma Mazur use her power over Vinnie to keep Stephanie employed, and what does this say about the power structure in the 'Burg?

7. What does the fact that Stephanie's mother tried to set Stephanie up with Spiro say about her mother's judgment?

8. Stephanie observes that the widow of the fingerless man has never experienced independence and will not know how to handle independence now that her husband has died. How is this different from Stephanie's lifestyle?

9. In Chapter Eleven, what action does Stephanie take that causes the religious structure of the 'Burg to be revealed?

10. What has changed about Stephanie's bedroom from the time she lived there in high school? What does this say about how Stephanie's mother views her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Within the novel, there were several graphic acts of violence. However, the author manipulated these opportunities for violence in such a way that the novel was not gory, but instead comical. Analyze three specific instances where violence was used and how the author managed to present a graphic concept while maintaining entertainment value.

Essay Topic 2

Moral character is manipulated throughout this novel. For example, Stephanie thinks nothing of lying to the woman who broke up her marriage, as the woman thought nothing of breaking up Stephanie's marriage.

Cite five examples in the story where the rules of society are bent and seen as socially acceptable. Debate the rationale of what is "right" and "wrong" in each instance.

Essay Topic 3

The 'Burg is a community that offers up an interesting mix of progressive and non-progressive thought. Compare and contrast the several examples of progressive and non-progressive behavior from the citizens of the 'Burg.

(see the answer keys)

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