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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. How old is Joey at the opening of the novel?

2. Which of the following actions is not something the children do to try to prove Pimko wrong in his theories about them?

3. What is the name of the "cool student" who refuses to take sides in the schoolyard brawl between Kneadus and Syphon?

4. Which of the following items is not an element noodles can be broken down into, according to Momsen?

5. What is the name of the schoolgirl's friend who drinks whiskey?

Short Essay Questions

1. What bizarre dream does Joey have the night before the novel opens?

2. Who is Doctor Filidor?

3. What division takes place on the schoolyard after Pimko's notes have been read?

4. What type of literary critic does the narrator despise?

5. What happens in the battle of face-pulling between Syphus and Kneadus?

6. How does Joey react to hearing Zuta speak on the telephone with her friends?

7. How is Mrs. Filidor caught in the crossfires of her husband's battle?

8. What community does the narrator claim is the stupidest community of all, and why?

9. What career path has Joey chosen for himself, and what is the general consensus from his family?

10. How does Dr. Pimko react when he reads the writing Joey has completed after waking from his strange dream?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Zuta is described as being a "modern" schoolgirl. First, describe the character of Zuta. What makes her different from the other schoolgirls in her grade? Then, explain what it means to be "modern" in Zuta's society. Is modernity something one is born with or can it be learned? Choose at least two examples of scenes from the text that you believe best exemplify and strengthen your argument and describe those scenes in this essay.

Essay Topic 2

Art, and writing in particular, is an theme central in the novel. What argument is the novel trying to make about structure. According to this book, what makes a good novel? What relationship should the author of the book have with its audience? How does the narrator of this novel feel about traditional form narration and how do you see that opinion reflected in the text? Choose at least two examples of scenes from the text that you believe best exemplify and strengthen your argument and describe those scenes in this essay.

Essay Topic 3

The story "The Child Runs Deep in Filibert" is really a comedy of errors. First, describe the inciting incident that set all the action of this story into motion. What events happened as a direct reaction to the inciting incident in this story? Then, explain why you believe the narrator chose to interject this story into Joey and Kneadus' journey. How does the story "The Child Runs Deep in Filibert" directly reflect the main story in the novel of Joey and Kneadus? Be sure to choose at least two scenes from the novel that you think best exemplify and strengthen your argument and describe them in this essay.

(see the answer keys)

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