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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 the nurse tell Steve he has to do in order to allow his father to "go?"

2. What does David think his father's admittance into the hospital will do for his family?

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

4. What is the name of the male nurse that meets David to inform him about his father's condition?

5. How long is David heavily sedated due to his illness?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 1 entitled "The End," what happens when David finally lashes out verbally against his mother?

2. Why does David initially refuse to admit that his father was going to die?

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

4. Why does David's mother refuse to go see her husband in the hospital?

5. What is the only way that David knows how to deal with his father's death?

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

7. How does David impress the Air Force sergeant assigned to his enlistment paperwork?

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

9. Why is David's grandmother upset with his brother Russell?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Why do you believe David never gives up? There are very specific details in the novel as to why David continues to succeed. Choose one of the textual details and address why that detail allowed David to become the man he has.

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