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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 is considered Douglas and Tom's first rite of the summer?

2. How does the children's disbelief make Helen feel?

3. What does the time machine turn out to be?

4. What does Mother send Tom to purchase?

5. What does Douglas like to think of John as?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which brother seems more like the father and in what way do they seem to be the same?

2. In what ways was the fact that change is difficult for children reinforced in this section of the novel?

3. What brings Douglas comfort after so many things that he loves have all changed and ended at once?

4. What new revelation does Douglas come to by dividing up his summer?

5. What ruins Douglas' zest for life and desire to take in every new detail?

6. Why does Douglas' Grandfather become so upset at the idea of his neighbor replacing his grass with some that does not grow as fast?

7. Describe, in detail, the major themes focused on within this section of reading.

8. What is Leo having a difficult time resolving in his own mind that he discusses albeit briefly with Douglas?

9. Why does Lena become reduced to tears after she uses the Happiness Machine that Leo built?

10. How does Leo rationalize to a displeased Lena that the Happiness Machine is a necessity?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Death is an ongoing issue which must be dealt with throughout the novel. Describe the similarities and differences between how the children dealt with death and how the adults did. Make connections between this and your own personal experience.

Essay Topic 2

Some might say that by acknowledging that some day he will die leads to Douglas almost facing death by becoming very ill. Explain why this statement might be accurate and why it might be inaccurate. Use specific examples from the novel to support your explanations.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel adults and children are often compared. Does the novel lead the reader to believe that they are more similar or more different? What events from the novel support your conclusions?

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This section contains 630 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample