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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 Ruth's father spend his weekends?

2. Where does David work?

3. What kind of instrument does Andrew play?

4. What is Rocky's real job?

5. In what state is Andrew buried?

Short Essay Questions

1. How have Ruth's parents lives changed?

2. Describe Halina's time in an underground prison.

3. Why is James anxious to move to Delaware?

4. Why does Ruth struggle to find a place she wants to be buried?

5. How does Andrew help Ruth get over her mother's death?

6. What problems do Ruth and Andrew have getting married?

7. How is Ruth's life getting better at the age of sixty five?

8. Describe Andrew and Ruth's relationship.

9. Describe the blood sacrifice of a chicken.

10. How does Rocky try to take advantage of Ruth?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine James' relationship with his mother.

1) How did James' mother help him become a success in life?

2) How does James' relationship with his mother develop throughout the book?

3) Why does it become so important for James to develop a stronger relationship with his mother?

Essay Topic 2

Compare the characters of Hunter Jordan and Andrew McBride.

1) What attracted both of them to Ruth?

2) How did they both improve Ruth's life?

3) What were their similarities and differences?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss differences between the novel and autobiography formats. What are the main elements of a novel? What are the main elements of an autobiography? What can novelists express that an autobiographer cannot? How can autobiographies keep to the facts while still maintaining a level of entertainment?

(see the answer keys)

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