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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 did fishermen in Barnstable discover?

2. In "The Foster Portfolio," who left Foster the securities?

3. What makes the rest of New England different from Barnstable?

4. What surprises the narrator and Anne about Grace's house?

5. What does Newt do to make Catharine hug him at the end of "Long Walk to Forever?"

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when George finds Jim at school during the night in "The Kid Nobody Could Handle?"

2. What happens when Newt proposes marriage to Catharine?

3. How does Kelly try to trick Pi Ying?

4. Why do humans who have not left their bodies think their way of life is better?

5. What are the rules of the chess game in "All the King's Horses?"

6. What happens the first time the narrator visits Gloria's house in "Go Back to Your Precious Wife and Son?"

7. In "The Manned Missiles," what happens to Stepan and Bud?

8. What were the government solutions to overpopulation in "Welcome to the Monkey House?"

9. How does Vonnegut seem to contradict himself in "New Dictionary?"

10. Why is Paul frightened in "Next Door?"

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Some of Vonnegut's stories could be described as science fiction. First, give an accurate definition of this genre. Then explain how Vonnegut's stories fit into the definition or do not fit in.

Essay Topic 2

Choose two families from this set of short stories and compare and contrast them. Respond to the ways the families interact with each other, their general level of happiness, and how the family life impacts the development of the story.

Essay Topic 3

How does technology play a part in these short stories? Describe how people use, or are used by, technology. How does technology change characters and plot lines?

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