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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. Whom does Lucy begin to date in 1939?

2. What does Russell do the weekend before his reexamination?

3. Why is Jim a poor flight instructor?

4. Russell is shocked when Lucy decides to marry who?

5. How many months does Russell spend in training?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the first Civil Rights demonstration Russell sees in his life?

2. What class at school is torture for Russell, and why?

3. How successful is Hal's lumber company?

4. Why is Russell sent to the principle's office at his new school?

5. What does Lucy purchase for Russell as a mark of adolescence?

6. What is odd about the family's new Baltimore home?

7. What school accepts Russell?

8. How does Russell remember Uncle Harold?

9. Why is Russell denied membership to his high school honor's society?

10. What part of adult life is Russell missing, according to his assessment of his friends?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapters 1 and 2, Russell questions the disconnect between parents and children by comparing his children to himself as a child.

1) Do you think such a disconnect exists? Why or why not?

2) Explain your answer using examples from the text.

3) What did Russell learn about his parents later in life? How could the new information help inform his writing process?

Essay Topic 2

Examine Russell's relationship with Mimi. How did the two meet? When does Russell fall in love with her? Is he clear about when she falls in love with him? What is the central problem in their relationship? Discuss both sides of the "marriage argument:" why won't Russell marry her? How much influence does Lucy have over his opinions about marriage? What is the end result?

Essay Topic 3

For most of Russell's life, Lucy has been his ultimate teacher. What happened to their relationship when he begins to surpass her education? Examine the subtleties between mother and son, including the Latin translation incident. What is young Russell trying to prove to his mother? Does Lucy recognize Russell's behavior? Explain your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 560 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample