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. How many husbands has Mrs. Burden had?

2. What was Willie Stark's job when Jack Burden first meets him?

3. What do Jack and Judge Irwin make while Jack is growing up?

4. Who do the city commissioners want to get the contract?

5. What is the quality of Willie's speeches?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the nature of Jack's second historical project which he launches in Chapter 5?

2. What does Jack's father mean when he shouts "Foulness" when Jack mentions Judge Irwin's name?

3. Does Jack have any contact with his real father now?

4. What negative trait of Willie's is verified by Willie's behavior in the White impeachment scandal?

5. How does the author indicate that Willie is against drinking alcohol?

6. How does Jack come to learn about the Mastern family?

7. What startling fact is revealed to Jack when he goes home to see if Judge Irwin will use his influence with MacMurfree?

8. Why is the move to hire Adam Stanton as the administrator of Willie's new hospital so out of character for Willie?

9. How does Willie re-enter political life?

10. What does Jack discover when he digs into the school construction story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the childhoods of Willie Stark and Jack Burden. How did Willie's life of hard work growing up on a farm make him the person he became? Would Willie have been different had he not entered politics? How did growing up relatively privileged affect Jack?

Essay Topic 2

Who is the character with the most moral fiber in the story? Do you think there is one character who will not be manipulated or used in some way for personal gain? Is there one character, besides Willy, who will stoop to almost anything to get what he/she wants no matter what the personal cost?

Essay Topic 3

Do you think Jack was surprised to learn about Judge Irwin's acceptance of the bribe related to the utilities company case? For some reason, Jack has an instinct that Judge Irwin's vulnerability is related to money. Why? Is it sad or practical that Jack can learn about the judge's flaw and accept it? Explain why Jack feels the need to research the judge in the first place.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 964 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample