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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. Where does Thurber say he grew up as a boy?

2. Why does Goerge dress up as Zenas?

3. What do the police find in the house?

4. What does Father do at 9.30pm?

5. What wakes up Father at 10.30 pm?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Thurber react when he hears the ghost?

2. How did people react to the claim the dam had burst?

3. What is Father's relationship with his sons?

4. How does Aunt Sarah Shoaf counter her fear of burglars?

5. Summarize chapter five.

6. How does Thurber's mother get overexcited in this chapter?

7. What does Thurber say about earthquakes in this chapter?

8. How does Thurber reassure Briggs?

9. How does Grandfather react when the police break into his room?

10. How did the rumor that the dam had broken start?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is Thurber's opinion on black pride? How does he express his opinion?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the author's writing style. How would you describe the author's prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? What meaning does the author's style give to the story?

Essay Topic 3

How did Thuber's time at Ohio State influence his later life? What indications are there that Thurber did not enjoy university?

(see the answer keys)

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