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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. What was included in Cass' papers?

2. To what year does the story flash back?

3. Which political faction covertly backs Willie's campaign?

4. What does Willie want of Judge Irwin?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Briefly explain the Mastern family story.

2. Explain the actions in Chapter 9 which create not only the climax of the novel but also the classic theme of good vs. evil.

3. How does Jack reason out Judge Irwin's role in his childhood?

4. When is Jack able to leave California and return home?

5. Under what circumstances did Jack's parents meet?

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

7. What happens at the school two years after the new school is built?q

8. What are the circumstances surrounding Willie's loss at reelection for the county treasurer job?

9. Which of the Mastern family members holds special appeal for Jack?

10. How does Judge Irwin react when he sees Jack and Willie at his home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Discuss the theme of good vs. evil in the novel. Who/what represents good? Who/what represents evil? How do they co-exist or do they? What is the final confrontation?

Essay Topic 3

The author has fun with the names of some of the characters such as Sugar Boy, Sen Sen Puckett and Tiny Duffy. Explain how these characters got their names. Why are the names appropriate for each one? Can you imagine them as being called anything else? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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