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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. How does Dave's mother feel after she stabs him?

2. How does Dave feel about his brothers as he hears them laugh at a TV show while they eat their desserts?

3. How does Dave feel as he watches the sunset after being stabbed?

4. As Dave watches an old piece of driftwood as it washes ashore, what does he imagine the wood is trying to do?

5. What is the secret that Dave learns quickly from his bad situation?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the incident where Dave is stabbed by his mother.

2. Summarize Mother's reaction when she receives a letter from Mr. Zeigler praising Dave's efforts in school.

3. Describe where Dave brings his son in the Epilogue and his emotions at that time.

4. Describe Dave's behavior in the classroom one a day during the winter of 1973.

5. Describe the actions of Dave's mother when she offers him a plate of food after ten days of not eating.

6. Describe the one time Dave had his prayers answered.

7. Explain why Mother suddenly allows Dave to watch television and gives him new clothes to wear in Chapter 6, While Father is Away.

8. Explain why Dave's morale is low in the summer of 1971.

9. Describe how Dave is treated by the rest of the family when his mother is in the hospital delivering his new brother.

10. What are Dave's thoughts when his father leaves for good?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the book, Dave's mother tortures him.

- Describe three of the punishments she inflicts upon Dave.

- Describe how he survives the punishments.

- Analyze his emotional state after the punishments are over.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Dave's views of the Russian River from the first time the reader is introduced to the vacation spot up to the time he visits it as an adult.

- What are his feelings in the good times?

- How does he feel when the family goes without him?

- Analyze his emotions when he brings his son, Stephen, to the Russian River.

Essay Topic 3

Summarize the events in the book that lead Dave to calling his mother's house, 'The Madhouse'. Give several examples from the book and describe how these events are considered insane by Dave.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 702 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample