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 reason did grandpa Charlie have for shooting a neighbor woman?

2. How did Charles kill the assassin in Korea?

3. What crime did John Sparks commit?

4. What was "Dinner on the Ground"?

5. Why did Sam become the school's janitor according to Rick?

Short Essay Questions

1. What were some of the stories that Rick would tell in the book that he had covered as a reporter?

2. When did Rick choose to write this memoir and why?

3. Why didn't Margaret find another man to continue her life with as time passed and Charles did not return?

4. How poor was Margaret while raising her small children?

5. What were the times like when Rick grew up? Where was he born? When?

6. Why does Rick say that anyone could write this book? Is that true?

7. What kind of an extended family does Rick have?

8. Why was Rick one of the usual suspects after a crime was committed, and how did he react to the whole situation?

9. What kind of a father did Rick have?

10. What was the main reason for Rick writing this memoir?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Susan Smith story made Rick feel hatred for the hopelessness of it all. What did he see as hopeless? What did Susan see in comparison? What lesson does Rick wish that he could have taught her before she killed her children?

Essay Topic 2

Thirty years later, Rick went back to see the big house that he once lived in. It was renovated. Rick wanted to scream when he saw it. Explain why he would want to scream at a beautiful house.

Essay Topic 3

Compare the three brothers. How do their differences affect the choices that they make in life?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 853 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample