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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What going away gift does Phillip's girlfriend give him before he moves to Memphis?
(a) An address book.
(b) A tie clip.
(c) An autographed photo.
(d) A fountain pen.

2. Where does Phillip first see Clara?
(a) At the top of Lookout Mountain.
(b) On the army post.
(c) In the library.
(d) At the entrance to the park.

3. How does Phillip get to school when he is a child in Nashville?
(a) He takes the school bus.
(b) He rides his bike.
(c) He rides his pony, Red.
(d) He walks with his mother.

4. Why does George Carver move to Memphis?
(a) To have a better social life.
(b) To join an old friend
(c) To start a new life after the problems in Nashville.
(d) To meet new people

5. What important event in Phillip's life takes place right before his sisters' calls about their father?
(a) Phillip has lost his job.
(b) Holly has moved out of their apartment.
(c) Alex has announced his engagement.
(d) Phillip and Holly have gotten married.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Phillip, how many children do Alex and his wife have?

2. What dance do Betsy and Josephine try and convince the bands to play?

3. To what does Phillip's mother compare the family's move to Memphis?

4. What name does Alex use for addressing Mrs. Carver?

5. Georgie is often mistaken for a native of what city?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 4, Phillip discusses Alex's concerns about Mr. Carver. Phillip listens, but thinks that Alex may not know his sisters as well as he thinks he does. What does Alex fear will happen to Mr. Carver and why? How does Phillip see the situation?

2. In Chapter 3, Phillip describes how Betsy and Josephine settle into their lives in Memphis after their failed engagements. He speaks with some pride about their accomplishments. What are those accomplishments? What type of life have Betsy and Josephine made for themselves in Memphis?

3. In Chapter 3, Phillip talks at length about what his sisters have done for both himself and his brother, Georgie. What have they done for their brothers to help them in their lives? What have they potentially sacrificed by helping their brothers in this way? How do the two women continue to take care of their father after the boys leave home?

4. As Chapter Six opens, Phillip describes the way his sisters are treating their father. How are the sisters behaving now that Father is dating?

5. Of all the Carver children, the least is said about Georgie. In Chapter 4, what information is revealed about Georgie? How would one describe Georgie and who he is in the Carver family?

6. In Chapter 4, Phillip describes meeting Alex Mercer. How does Phillip meet Alex and how does their friendship grow? What do each represent to the other?

7. Phillip is in New York in Chapter 3 and receiving letters from Alex, Betsy and Josephine about Mr. Carver. How does Phillip react to his father's dating? How does he respond to his sisters' treatment of Mr. Carver both in public and private? Why does he take the position he does? How does he respond to Alex's concerns?

8. In Chapter 1, the narrator begins the story with an explanation of the perils of a widower with middle-aged children,dating. What is the major issue faced by the widower? What examples of this situation does the narrator provide?

9. In Chapter 3, Phillip paints a picture of his parents and his two sisters living in Memphis and their conversations about dating and the men they are both seeing. How does this appear to him when he is home visiting? How do Betsy and Josephine behave in front of their parents? What is the topic of conversation much of the time Phillip is visiting? How do the elderly Mr. and Mrs. Carver respond to their middle-aged daughters' banter?

10. In Chapter 5, Phillip describes his summer at Fort Oglethorpe. What was this summer like for him? Why has he chosen this summer in particular to describe in detail?

(see the answer keys)

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