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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 is Paul told to take a trip to after Mother's birthday?

2. What can't Mother recognize after getting home from the party?

3. What keeps Mother at the party after she wants to leave?

4. Why does someone try to send Paul on a trip after Mother's birthday?

5. Who puts money in the big race for Paul?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Paul think he was able to predict all the horse winners?

2. What keeps Mother at the party when she wants to leave?

3. What initially worries Mother about Paul?

4. What is symbolic in Paul's death?

5. What does Paul get as a result of his mother's birthday present?

6. What does Mother sense during the party she goes to?

7. What does Mother do with her birthday gift?

8. What does Mother do when she begins getting worried about Paul?

9. How does Paul choose the winners of the horse races?

10. What is Paul hoping to hear from the house after his mother gets her birthday present?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What were some of the forms of foreshadowing used in this book, and how did those moments affect the course of the plot?

Essay Topic 2

Jean was a minor character whose presence made a big difference in the plot. How did she accomplish this? What are some ways that her presence, though brief, altered the outcome of the plot? What would have happened differently if she had not been in the book at all?

Essay Topic 3

Please describe how Paul used the rocking horse, and what symbolism this had on the book.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 644 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample