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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. Who wrote the letter that David wished he never received?

2. In the autobiography, what does David say is the nickname given to foster children?

3. What memory does David have upon walking into his grandmother's home?

4. Much to David's surprise, how long has his father been in the hospital?

5. How does David impress the recruiting officer while filling out his Air Force enlistment papers?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does David realize while looking in the mirror at his grandmother's about his grandmother?

2. Describe the hug between David and his grandmother during their first meeting in years.

3. Why does David not understand the reason for his mother's abuse?

4. Why is David sweating while on the plane to San Antonio?

5. What does David's mother mean by "All I've done for you" when talking to David?

6. Why does David find out that his superior officers have been so hard on him?

7. David's mother stopped calling David by his name while he was a child. Describe the regression of David's "name."

8. What advice does David's father have for him as he gets ready to leave for the Air Force?

9. Why is David shocked by the one and only letter his father sends him?

10. Why is David so upset about his father being in the hospital?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss David's feelings about himself. Do you think that these feelings are warranted? How does David cope with his feelings? What makes it possible for David to live with himself given how he feels? When do David's feelings about himself change?

Essay Topic 2

Describe David's relationship with Patsy. Why does David begin the relationship with Patsy? How does their relationship progress? Is the relationship good for David? For Patsy? Do you believe that the relationship was doomed from the beginning? Why?

Essay Topic 3

David searches for answers to his abuse throughout the novel. Discuss David's findings while addressing the following:

-Who tells David about his past?

-What person does David find out the most from?

-What conclusions does David come to about his past from the information he gets?

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This section contains 892 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample