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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. What is hired for Paul after Mother gets her birthday money?

2. How does Mother feel after she gets her birthday money?

3. What does Paul bet on to make money?

4. What habit did damage to Mother's family as a child?

5. What strange luxury does Mother buy in the winter?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mother show by the way she reacts to her birthday gift?

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

3. How is Mother unlucky even after getting rich?

4. How does the book end?

5. What happens at the Derby?

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

7. How is Malabar significant to the story?

8. What changes in Mother after she gets the birthday gift?

9. How does Paul respond when Mother tries to help him when she gets worried about him?

10. Why isn't Paul personally present at the Derby?

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

Many different characters in this plot were persuaded to do things that they would not have done of their own accord. What are some of these instances, and how did persuasion affect the course of the plot?

Essay Topic 3

What role did money play in this short story, and do you agree with the message the author was trying to send through this inclusion of the theme of money?

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