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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 can Dave not convince Toph to do?

2. What does Beth talk her mother into doing?

3. Who is Dave watching TV with in this chapter?

4. What does Dave hold to his mother's nose?

5. What is Dave's only income in this chapter?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Dave not date many women?

2. In what way does Dave struggle with the memory of his parents in Chapter 4?

3. What problems does Dave have cooking?

4. How does Dave feel when he finally leaves Toph with a babysitter?

5. What different directions do the characters take in Chapter 2?

6. What does Dave think about as he holds ice to his mother's nose?

7. Summarize the second chapter.

8. Why does Dave call a nurse rather than take his mother to the hospital?

9. What is wrong with Dave's mother at the beginning of Chapter 1?

10. Why does Dave struggle to discard of some of his parent possessions?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Dave's relationship with his parents.

1) Why does Dave hold his mother in much higher regard than his father?

2) How have Dave's parents affected his personality and the decisions he makes in the book?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss differences between the novel and autobiographical 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?

Essay Topic 3

Identify the main themes of the story. Why do you think these themes are so important to the story? How does Eggers use character and setting to express his themes?

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