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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 nationality are the people barbecuing goat by the train tracks in Act 4, Chapter 1?

2. How many serious girlfriends has Vinod had in Act 3, Chapter 4?

3. How many bottles of retsina has Ed ordered in Act 4, Chapter 2?

4. In Act 3, Chapter 2, how many episodes of the Japanese reality show are there?

5. Who was Ed's favorite housemate on the Japanese reality show who killed herself?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does VInod begin to feel when he is in the meadow reading in Act 4, Chapter 5?

2. How and why does Nat talk and talk during dinner in Act 3, Chapter 5?

3. What does the head of the network say to Senderovsky about not doing his show?

4. How does Dee get a family to be friendly when she and the Actor are walking in Act 3, Chapter 3?

5. How does everyone act after the Actor leaves?

6. How does social media turn on Dee?

7. What does Vinod feel about sheltering in place?

8. In Act 3, Chapter 1, what does Senderovsky think about Nat and his parenting?

9. How does Masha feel about Karen's rapport with Nat?

10. What is the schedule when the Actor leaves?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Conflicts between characters are often caused by a problem. What are some conflicts that occur in Our Country Friends? Are the conflicts in the book mostly man vs. man, man vs. nature, or man vs. self? Are they internal or external conflicts?

Essay Topic 2

Artistic license is a method an author uses to create art, music, or writing based on his interpretation of life. How does Shteyngart use artistic license to create the realistic background of Our Country Friends?

Essay Topic 3

Personification is a type of figurative language that assigns human characteristics to inanimate objects. How does Shteyngart use personification in Our Country Friends? How does the use of personification assist readers in imagining scenes and objects?

(see the answer keys)

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