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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 does Dave's mother do after Dave is stabbed?

2. Why does Dave's mother give him roller skates for Christmas?

3. By Chapter 7, The Lord's Prayer, when does Dave believe he will be free of his mother?

4. By Chapter 7, The Lord's Prayer, how does Dave tolerate physical pain?

5. What does Dave realize after years of struggling?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the school nurse become interested in Dave's condition in Chapter 6, While Father is Away?

2. Describe what Dave has to do while the rest of the family eats in the summer of 1971.

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

4. Explain what Dave's mother does after he is stabbed.

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

6. Explain what Dave eats after he finished the dishes one day in Chapter 7, The Lord's Prayer.

7. Describe why Dave is so fascinated with a piece of driftwood that is washing ashore in the Epilogue.

8. Describe what Dave does when he finds that his stab wound is infected.

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss how Dave's mother changes from the beginning of the book to the end.

- How do her attitudes toward her family and Dave in particular change?

- How does her attitude toward Dave's father change?

- What are the differences in her attitude toward the way she takes care of her family, cooking, cleaning, planning vacations, and nurturing change through the course of the book?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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