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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. Who is not bright, but is a good worker?

2. What did the boss buy everyone at the ranch for Christmas?

3. Why did Lennie and George get run out of the last town they worked in prior to Chapter 1?

4. In Chapter 3, who repeats the comment that Lennie is not bright, but is a good worker?

5. Who is capable of driving 20 mules with a single line?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does George explain to Lennie as they are walking in the beginning of the book? What are they doing?

2. Who has been playing cards with Crooks, the old black ranch hand?

3. How does George describe the piece of property that he and Lennie are planning to buy someday?

4. Why don't George and Lennie go to the ranch the first night?

5. Describe the area of Soledad, California.

6. What does George say in response to the boss' suspicion about why he answers for Lennie?

7. How could Lennie's mental state be described?

8. Describe the character of George in the first scene of the novel.

9. What happens when Slim comments on the relationship between George and Lennie?

10. As Lennie and George are walking along as the book begnins, what does George complain about?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Carlson seems to have a lot of trouble with the smell of Candy's dog, asking nearly everyone to convince Candy to shoot the dog. Why do you think that Carlson is so fixated on this dog? What other ways could Candy have dealt with the situation? What does it say about Candy that he allows someone else to shoot his dog?

Essay Topic 2

When Curley attacks Lennie, Lennie doesn't defend himself, even though he is much bigger and stronger. This seems a contradiction as Lennie does appear to have violent tendencies. Why do you think the Lennie didn't defend himself? Should he have fought back? Why or why not? And why did Lennie eventually break Curley's hand?

Essay Topic 3

George and Lennie have been talking about their dream for a while when George finally realizes that it could actually come true. But in the end, it doesn't. Do you think that their dream was ever going to come true? Do you think that George ever really believed it would come true? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 718 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample