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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. Who went to Charles's funeral?

2. What was meant by the quote "didn't have no papers on him."?

3. In what era did Rick's parents grow up?

4. What did Margaret expect Rick's father to do after she poured his whiskey down the drain?

5. What was "Dinner on the Ground"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Rick experience at the Protestant Church that he attended when he is young?

2. What did the poor black boy bring to Rick's family, and what does Rick think about it now that he is an older man?

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

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

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

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

7. What was the relationship like between the brothers?

8. How did false pride become an obstacle for Rick as a teenager?

9. What story did Rick tell about his cowboy boots?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Explain the quote found on page 98: "But what really kills you on that other side are the people--the smiling, care-free people--who can just as easily look over into your side, and turn their face away." Explain it in terms of the memoir and the truism in life.

Essay Topic 3

What are Rick's views about religion? Where do they come from? How do they affect him emotionally? What does he understand that he is missing?

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