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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 is Martin?

2. What nickname does Tobias have for Andy?

3. What does Mrs. Monroe of Texlahoma sell?

4. Claire tells a story about a man named Buck. What is Buck's occupation?

5. Reading a passage from the diaries of which artist inspired Andy to exercise?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Andy tell us about Claire in Chapter 7?

2. Where are Andy, Dag, and Claire all originally from, and why does Andy say it doesn't matter?

3. How does Andy describe Palm Springs in Chapter 2?

4. In Chapter 10, what does Andy recall was on his mind when he was on the phone trying to track down photos from Depeche Mode?

5. What do Clair and Andy discuss about Dag after he gets in touch with them following his disappearance to Nevada?

6. At the beginning of the novel, what does Andy recall doing when he was fifteen years old?

7. In Chapter 1, what example does Andy give of Dag's considerate nature?

8. How does Dag describe himself when he worked in advertising?

9. In Chapter 12, what does Dag say about Scotty's Junction, Nevada?

10. How and when do Andy and Claire meet?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Coupland's use of symbolism. What are some examples of symbolism found in the novel? How does Coupland use irony to reiterate the themes of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the character Dag Bellinghausen. What are his defining character traits? What are his relationships with Andy and Claire like? Is Dag able to become a truth teller by the end of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the sun motif. What does sun and light represent in this novel? How do the three main characters view the sun? Do their views of the sun and light change as the novel progresses? If so, how?

(see the answer keys)

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