View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was Menon's last conscious act?

2. What two things did Beethoven want to be?

3. In Chapter 19, what does Fulghum catch his neighbor spraying in his yard?

4. In Chapter 23, when Fulghum finds out that his barber has left, what does Fulghum say it feels like?

5. What kind of shoes is the Indian wearing who enters the tavern?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 36, what happens when Fulghum stops to help a couple that has a dead car battery and he and the stranded man try to find the battery?

2. What happened in Chapter 24 when Fulghum tries to organize a game of giants, wizards, and dwarfs?

3. What does the author do in Chapter 28 when his cuckoo clock is not working properly, and what happens to the clock?

4. In Chapter 28, why does Robert Fulghum buy a cuckoo clock?

5. Why does Fulghum tell the reader in Chapter 16 to not be mislead by the stories we hear of crookedness and corruption?

6. What does Fulghum say will happen if you put a bunch of the stuff mentioned in Chapter 34 in a jar with water?

7. In Chapter 34, Fulghum discusses the two items that make up the majority of stuff. What are some of the other miscellaneous items that make up stuff?

8. In Chapter 36, what are some of the deadly mixtures that Fulghum and his newfound stranded friend discuss?

9. In Chapter 39, Fulghum talks about a list of mysteries that he keeps that's getting longer and longer as he gets older. What are two of these mysteries that he lists in the book?

10. In Chapter 19, when Mr. Washington comes over to Fulghum's home and starts spraying the dandelions, what kind of discussion does this spark?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe V.P. Menon's character is the book. What motivated Menon to "pay it forward"? How did Menon make up his debt from the Sikh? As a person who quit school at thirteen, how was Menon still wise in many ways? In what ways did Menon become the best person he could be? What do you think motivated Menon to become who he was? How will Menon's name and legacy live on? Explain your answers by using specific material from the book.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 51, Fulghum discusses Mother Teresa. Why do you think the author waits until the end of the book to tell his story about Mother Teresa? Does her story help conclude Fulghum's book in any way? Why do you think Fulghum says that Mother Teresa has "profoundly disturbed my peace of mind for a long time"? Fulghum even goes as far as to say that she drives him crazy. Why do you think he sets up her story in this manner? Use examples from the book to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Even though Fulghum jumps from story to story and doesn't really go in any type of chronological order, does the book still seem to flow when you read it? Why or why not? After reading only short stories about so many different times, places, and individuals, was there enough to interest you as a reader and keep you wanting more as you read the book? If so, how does Fulghum create this in his writing? If not, why were you not interested or involved with the book and people? Why do you think Robert Fulghum wrote the book the way he did with short stories and short chapters? Explain your reasoning.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,240 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample