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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 James order from the bartender when he enters the bar and sits down?

2. Who wakes James up in the middle of the night because he/she is angry with him?

3. Who is the newest addition to the clinic--a Catholic university administrator with an addition to crack and prostitutes?

4. What does James continue to try to do in private?

5. What is the condition Roy suffers from?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened to Lilly that she was afraid James would find out from others?

2. What does James recall about fear as he is frightened and walks out into the woods?

3. Why does Lilly call to ask James to meet her in the woods?

4. What do James' parents confess happened to James when he was a child?

5. What is the assignment that Joanne gives to James after he reveals his moment of clarity he had in the woods?

6. Why does James wake up in the middle of the night at the beginning of Chapter 12?

7. Who does James suspect is behind the reduction in his Ohio prison sentence?

8. What does James do at the bar at the end of the story?

9. What does James tell Joanne about the time he will know he has recovered from his addiction?

10. What does Randall reveal to James about his legal troubles?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The power of addiction is shocking in this story. From the details of James' past to his injuries in the beginning, it seems the grisly truth about addiction is worse than movies have led us to believe.

Part 1: Describe the opening scene and James' state when he gets off the airplane.

Part 2: Why do you think the details were included in this story? Do you think the addiction would have been less believable without the details? Why or why not?

Part 3: What part of the story shocked you the most? Why did it shock you?

Essay Topic 2

In many ways, the characters of this book not only save themselves, but they also manage to save others.

Part 1: Who are some of the patient characters that help James' recovery?

Part 2: Why do you think other patients want to help other patients along the way?

Part 3: What does this interactive type of recovery seem to say about the addiction and recovery process?

Essay Topic 3

The relationship between James and his parents is certainly one that people can relate to, and yet it still seems to be sad and stilted.

Part 1: Describe the relationship between James and his parents at the beginning of this novel.

Part 2: What are some of the things that are revealed in the family therapy sessions?

Part 3: Who seems to be at fault for the issues between James and his parents? Why did you choose the answer you did?

(see the answer keys)

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