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

2. What does David's mother tell her mother (David's grandmother) that David did when he visited?

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

4. According to David, who is the only one who can save his father?

5. Who admits to calling social services before David was removed from his mother's home?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is David's grandmother so upset with his mother (her daughter) after his father's death?

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

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

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

5. Describe the nightmares that David has during basic training.

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

7. While looking around his mother's bedroom, what is he surprised to find after seven years?

8. Why does David choose to stay at the dorms rather than go out with the other soldiers?

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

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

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

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?

Essay Topic 3

David's mother always refuses to admit that she abused him as a child. Discuss David's mother's reasoning behind her "discipline." Be sure to address the following questions as part of the essay:

-Why does his mother continue to deny the abuse?

-Why does she admit to stabbing him but only to say it was an accident?

-Does she justify her "discipline?"

-Is there anything from her past that would make her think that she really did not abuse David and that her "discipline" was normal?

(see the answer keys)

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