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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. What does Lefty do while working on the assembly line at Ford that angers some of the other workers?

2. Who does Zoe end up marrying?

3. What is located in Desdemona's hope chest that she fears she will never use?

4. What artistic medium does Julie Kikuchi work with?

5. What is unusual about Lefty and Desdemona's relationship?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the narrator characterize Lefty's gradual demise?

2. What is the conflict between Desdemona and Lefty in the chapter "Marriage on Ice"?

3. What goes through Tessie's mind as she watches movies at the theatre?

4. Why does Lefty not marry either of the village girls that Desdemona attempts to set him up with?

5. What does Milton do to convince the realtor to sell him Middlesex?

6. Why does the vigilante who throws a Molotov Cocktail into the Zebra Room yell "Opa!" as he sets the diner on fire?

7. Describe the narrator in Book 2, Ex Ovo Omina.

8. What is particular significance of Lefty and Desdemona (brother and sister) marrying for Cal/Calliope, the narrator?

9. Describe Detroit in 1967.

10. Compare Milton's and Mike Antoniou's views on religion.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides weaves actual events from history (Turkish and American) into his fictional story. Select one of the situations where he places his characters within a real historical context and:

1) Describe the historical context of the scene or chapter (i.e. What actually happened in history that Eugenides uses in the book?).

2) Discuss the relationship between the historical context and the fictional story of the Stephanides family. What does this piece of history have to do with the family's life? Why does Eugenides choose to place these characters at this particular point in the story in this particular historical context?

Essay Topic 2

Dr. Luce's study of Cal/Calliope not only explains his/her medical condition, but also causes him/her to make the decision to change genders.

1) Describe Dr. Luce's conclusions about Cal/Calliope's medical condition. What is his diagnosis? What does he propose as a course of treatment?

2) Analyze the accuracy of Dr. Luce's conclusions. Did he correctly diagnose Cal/Calliope? Why or why not? Was his course of treatment appropriate? Why or why not?

3) Discuss how Cal/Calliope's life would have been different if s/he had continued to work with Dr. Luce and had followed his course of treatment.

Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the events that lead Calliope to decide to live her life as Cal. Then comment on his/her decision. Did s/he make the right decision? Why or why not? What would you have done if you were in the same situation?

(see the answer keys)

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