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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. In "Murderers," whose house do the young boys snoop in"?

2. In the story "The Liar," in what country does James say he works with young children?

3. When David finally reaches a doctor with his father, how long has his father already been dead?

4. Which of the following men does Gay believe is having an affair with his wife?

5. What religion does Leo Finkle practice in the story "The Magic Barrel"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What type of hunting experience does the fisherman and his boys have in the story "The Ledge"?

2. How does the narrator react when her father falls ill in "The Lover of Horses"?

3. Why don't roommates Henry and Osmond get along in the story "The Christian Roommates"?

4. How does the grandmother react when face-to-face with the killer she read about in the newspapers?

5. Why did Sam's ex-wives walk out on him in the story "The Wedding"?

6. What instrument does Jack Hawthorne learn to play in the story "Redemption," and why?

7. In the story "The Misfits," how does Gay Langland feel about relationships?

8. Why does Gil make his way to Galven's house in the story "Ile's Forest," and what is his greeting there?

9. How does a monkey end up aboard ship in the story "Letters from the Samantha"?

10. How does Leo Finkel meet his wife in "The Magic Barrel"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"The Christian Roommates" is the story of two young men who come together in college and end up changing each others lives irrevocably. First, describe the two roommates, Orson and Henry. What is the same about these two young men? What is different about them? Then, choose at least two arguments the two roommates got into during their time together at Harvard. How did these arguments affect their friendship? Finally, choose one of the two roommates and explain what happened to them after graduation. How was their life irrevocably altered by the roommate they spent time with at Harvard? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

The story "The Wedding" is all about loneliness. First, describe the loneliness of Sam, Elizabeth, and the child. What is the same about their loneliness? What is different? Describe the relationship between Elizabeth's loneliness and her passion for reading. How do these two seemingly unrelated things affect each other? Finally, describe how loneliness brought Sam and Elizabeth together in marriage. In the end, do you think the couple was settling, or were they truly in love? How can you tell? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

In the story "Weekend," age becomes a factor in the relationships George forms. First, describe the women that George has a tendency to get romantically involved with. Where does he meet these women? What does their age difference tend to be? Explain the ways that George medicates himself through romantic relationships. What else does George depend on to make himself feel good about the age differences in his love life? Be sure to include examples from the text that you believe strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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