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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. With whom did the narrator come to the club?

2. On the way to work, what poster does the narrator see?

3. Why does the narrator like Tad Allagash?

4. Is the narrator depressed about his current situation?

5. What scent does the narrator catch on Bleecker street?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the narrator describe his mother's reaction to Amanda?

2. How did the narrator and Amanda first meet?

3. How does the narrator feel after his date with Vicky?

4. Does the narrator enjoy his work in the Department of Factual Verification? Why or why not?

5. How is the narrator out of place in the sports bar?

6. Why is the narrator so upset when he forgets Megan's bagel?

7. Why does the narrator seem surprised by his situation?

8. To what does the narrator attribute his need to belong and feel desired?

9. What is the significance of the last three images in the chapter: the Colgate sign, the Statue of Liberty, and the garbage barge?

10. What does the narrator hope for as he turns in an article that he knows is unfinished?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the narrator's elitism.

1) How has the narrator's love of fiction contributed to this elitism? Why does he feel he must alter the truth about his job to strangers?

2) Why is the narrator so concerned with being "in" rather than "out"? How much of this fear drives his friendship with Tad Allagash?

3) Could his need to be one of the elite have contributed to his relationship with Amanda? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Though brothers, the narrator and Michael are very different people. Compare and contrast Michael and the narrator, focusing specifically on their careers and stations in life. Why are they resentful toward one another? Why has Michael come to New York? Why has the narrator stayed away from home?

Essay Topic 3

After Amanda's departure, all the narrator has left of her is a mannequin at Saks Fifth Avenue.

1) Describe the beginnings of their relationship. How did they arrive at such a dramatic point?

2) The narrator and Amanda are very different people. Could this have attributed to their downfall as a couple?

3) How is Amanda's mannequin representative of Amanda herself?

(see the answer keys)

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