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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 kind of books does David read to his son?

2. In August of 1990, what caused David's marital problems to be placed on the back burner?

3. Upon his return to his new base, what does David learn Patsy has done?

4. How many years were David and Patsy married before they separated?

5. Who gets the second copy of David's first book?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Patsy think that David is ready for a new start to their marriage?

2. Why is David worried about Katie?

3. Why does David have such a hard time on the drive home from Utah to Florida?

4. What does David promise to Stephen, in his own mind, about going to war?

5. What does David remember about his childhood when talking to Mr. Ziegler at his old elementary school?

6. What happens at David's apartment when leaving Patsy to water the plants and feed his turtle?

7. Describe David's relationship with his son Stephen.

8. What option does the female co-pilot give David as an alternative to getting married?

9. What are a few of the reasons that Patsy is upset with David?

10. What causes David to open up about his past abuse when speaking to troubled kids?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the similarities between Patsy and David's mother. Do you think these similarities have anything to do with their relationship failing? Do you think that David was trying to make up for the bad relationship he had with his mother in dating/marrying Patsy? Do you think that David was trying to save Patsy from herself because he could not save his mother?

Essay Topic 2

David tells readers about a time in his childhood when he was ready to die. Why do you think he was finally ready to give up? What finally snapped in David? Given all of the abuse, why was he willing to let his mother finally win and kill him? Or would she really be winning?

Essay Topic 3

David's father's fireman's badge is very important to him. In an essay, discuss the importance of the badge. Why does David's father's badge mean so much to him? What does the badge symbolize? Does the badge symbolize a crutch or a way out?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 908 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample