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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. Who auditions to play Stella in the play?

2. Who is in charge of the handicap laws?

3. Who does Kelly realize he must sacrifice in order to trick Pi Ying?

4. What does Catharine say when Newt proposes marriage?

5. Where is Barnstable close to?

Short Essay Questions

1. What changes does Barnstable go through, as described in "Where I Live?"

2. How does George blame himself for his problems in "More Stately Mansions?"

3. What do Sousa and Heinz talk about in the hospital?

4. How does Catharine change when she goes to the orchard with Newt?

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

6. In "Tom Edison's Shaggy Dog," how does the stranger react to Harold's life story?

7. In "The Hyannis Port Story," what is Commodore Rumfoord devoted to?

8. What story does the stranger tell Harold?

9. Why does David look for a job at the Works in "Deer in the Works?"

10. In "New Dictionary," what changes does Vonnegut note in the new Random House edition?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How are international relations represented in Vonnegut's stories? Write about how different countries clash, work together, and affect each other in this collection of stories. How does the use of international relationships develop these stories? What message is delivered about these relationships?

Essay Topic 2

Compare the roles of the wealthy to the roles of the middle and lower classes in this collection of stories. How does Vonnegut describe each group of people? How do they interact? What does each group expect from life? What do these things tell readers about social class in the United States?

Essay Topic 3

Select one story from this collection and write a critical analysis that focuses on the story's relationship to reality. Form an argument about the "usefulness" of the story as many of Vonnegut's tales seem to carry a message or warning for the reader.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 720 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample