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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 does Anne reply to the teasing of Catherine in Chapter 70?

2. When is Shepard bedridden with arthritis in Chapter 51?

3. How does Bart get to his robberies in Chapter 55?

4. What sport indirectly provides the reason for a war between Honduras and El Salvador in Chapter 73?

5. At what age does Horatio Alger pass the Harvard entrance exams?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Doc Holliday earn his reputation in Chapter 59?

2. How does a young goat herder become known for the optimum in elegance in Chapter 46?

3. How does Lucy's engagement allow Harvey to discuss a president's assassination in Chapter 58?

4. What invention is made through observing insects in "The Sting"?

5. How does Sam Houston know exactly what time to attack the enemy in "Napoleon of the West"?

6. What is the reason that "The Producer" cannot appreciate Rachmaninoff's talent in Chapter 71?

7. Which technique does Harvey use in "Escape" to conceal the identity of the story's subject?

8. Which president has a penchant for speed in "Drag-Strip Simpson," and how does Harvey document his hobby?

9. How does Harvey use two different time periods as the element of surprise in "The Code of Love"?

10. In what way does reality mirror fiction in Chapter 49?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Harvey chooses to address two controversial issues in Chapter 69 and 72.

1) Describe the story about feminism and the use of dates to support the surprise ending of Chapter 69.

2) Explain the relevance of James' story in Chapter 72 as it relates to women in the military.

3) Analyze the different approaches that Harvey uses with both stories and his reasons for them.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the reasons that accidents can lead to significant discoveries as they are described in the book. Include a detailed analysis of the events that unintentionally brought about the origins of things (ex. paper, Masonite, the game of football, the potato chip, etc.) as well as the value of accidental inventions in general.

Essay Topic 3

Examine the surprise endings of The Rest of the Story by analyzing the techniques that Harvey uses in three different stories that feature an unexpected twist at their conclusion. Be sure to also include why those specific techniques were chosen by Harvey and the settings where they are the most effective.

(see the answer keys)

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