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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. When Ms. Lemry asks for volunteers to present their subject for the CAT class presentation, who goes first?

2. What is the name of Moby's mother's new boyfriend?

3. According to his friend's story, how old was his friend when she was burned?

4. What is the name of the counselor that introduces herself to the narrator?

5. When the story opens, how old is the narrator?

Short Essay Questions

1. As the story opens, how does the narrator describe his father?

2. What is Ms. Lemry's initial argument to Mark when he tries to drop the CAT class?

3. What advice does the counselor give to the narrator when he first visits his friend at the hospital?

4. Why does Ellerby sometimes threaten to give his Rottweiler to Moby?

5. Before visiting his friend in the hospital, how long had it been since the narrator had been on the psychiatric unit and why had he been there?

6. What does the tattoo on Dale Thornton's forearm say?

7. According to the bumper sticker on Ellerby's car, what are the wages of sin?

8. How does Ellerby react at the "special" Saturday practice when Brittain and his lane members bow for prayer before beginning their set?

9. Who is Huey-Dewey?

10. In the CAT class, why does Ms. Lemry decide that the class will spend several days discussing the topic of abortion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Moby and Mark Brittain.

a. How are the two characters similar? How are they different?

b. Compare the role that justice plays in each of their lives. How is each character affected by the concept of justice - both positively and negatively?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the course of the novel, religious overtones abound. In fact, these religious differences become a main motivator in moving the plot forward. Identify at least three different religious views that impacted the plot and the lives of the characters involved in the story. For each instance, describe the characters involved, the religious belief, and how the belief impacted the story's plot. How might the story have been different if these beliefs had not been a part of the plot? Explain your reasoning.

Essay Topic 3

The author uses several different literary techniques as the story is told in regard to the story's flow. Describe the techniques of both flashbacks and foreshadowing. How are each of these techniques used in the story? Give specific examples of each technique. Why might the author have chosen to use both of these techniques in the story? Was the story enhanced by the use of these two techniques? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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