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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. When Simone and Claude are jogging and arguing, what does she say him from in "The Prairie Executioner #2"?

2. What does Connie Stove remember making from pizza-boxes?

3. What does Professor Janus want students to call him?

4. In "Sunset," what is a man wearing at the bus station who says goodbye to two children?

5. In "Reunion," what is the only car in the parking lot?

Short Essay Questions

1. What problems does Claude have with showering in "Routine"?

2. Why does Claude think that Whitney is scared in "The Prairie Executioner #2"?

3. What routes does the bus take that Claude rides to Missouri and what does Claude see?

4. What does Claude say happened to Chester Dexter?

5. Why does Claude leave the journalism office in "Sociology #1" and how is he feeling?

6. How does Claude describe the stop the bus makes in Springfield?

7. What meeting does Claude's RA have in "Icebreaker"?

8. At the end of "Ohio," what does Paul tell Claude after dinner about leaving?

9. What does Chester Dexter try to persuade Janice to do in "Ohio"?

10. Where are Claude and Simone to work at the journalism office, and how is their space set up?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Simone and Claude are assigned a diversity project at the school newspaper. Why are Simone and Claude assigned a diversity project at the school newspaper? What does the assignment convey about racism and stereotypes?

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, some characters are more thoroughly described than others. Who are some characters that are merely named in passing or have a minor role in the novel? What is the importance of these flat characters to the storyline? In what way do these characters make the main characters more colorful or interesting? When there is conflict, what type of role do these flat characters play?

Essay Topic 3

There is a riot between the police and the Redbelters. How does the riot start? How violent is the riot? How does the violence affect the humanity of the participants—the police and the Redbelters?

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