View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "The Other Woman" the storyteller receives a letter from his fiancee. What does the letter say?

2. In "Theft" the thief is stealing for ____________.

3. In "Theft" what is stolen?

4. In "Theft" what is the main character doing when the thief enters her apartment?

5. Who wrote "That in Aleppo Once..."?

Short Essay Questions

1. When "The Resemblance Between a Violin Case and a Coffin" and "The Country Husband" were first published, how controversial was the subject matter?

2. In "Wild Plums" why do the narrator's parents not want her to pick plums?

3. In "Christmas Gift" why do you suppose the father stopped complaining about the half-sister staying with the family?

4. In "That In Aleppo Once..." who is V.?

5. How is "The Resemblance Between a Violin Case and a Coffin" a story about coming of age?

6. In "My Dead Brother Comes to America," what does the father do to show he cares for his family?

7. Describe the evidence that the family in "Christmas Gift" are second-class citizens.

8. In "The Second Tree from the Corner," what are Mr. Trexler's bizarre thoughts?

9. Describe how the sister acts around Richard in "The Resemblance Between a Violin Case and a Coffin."

10. In the end of, "That in Aleppo Once..." why is the narrator unhappy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain how the time period plays a role in "My Dead Brother Comes to America" and "The Christmas Gift."

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the appearances of religion within "The Key" and "A City of Churches." How is religion portrayed? Is it a positive or negative force within the text?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the concept of an unreliable narrator and how this is used in "That in Aleppo Once..."

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 920 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample