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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 is Barry's last name in the book?

2. What word is used to describe Bill in addition to his feeling slightly superior?

3. Who does Swede assume has already called the police about Merry in Chapter 9?

4. What proceedings are Swede's parents watching on TV in Chapter 7?

5. What does Swede know that Dawn must put on after the stain of Merry's bomb?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Swede's time as a marine described in Chapter 5?

2. How does Sheila explain her reason for taking Merry in, to Swede in Chapter 9?

3. What is the nature of Swede's memory of knocking Bill out on the football field?

4. What does Lou say he is ashamed of Jerry for in Chapter 7?

5. What is the nature of the letter Swede receives from Rita at the beginning of Chapter 5?

6. How is Bill Orcutt described in Chapter 7?

7. How does Swede suggest that the Miss New Jersey pageant ruined Dawn?

8. What is the nature of Swede's phone call with Rita at the beginning of Chapter 9?

9. What does Swede witness when he walks in on Dawn and Bill in his kitchen during the dinner party?

10. How is Swede's conversation with Bill, Jessie, and Lou described in Chapter 9?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the character Merry. What is telling about the true nature of Merry based on her non-conformist choices like being militant or becoming a Jain?

Essay Topic 2

One of the major factors to create Merry's militant actions is the impact of Swede's kiss to Merry as a child.

Part 1) What is telling of Merry based on her request that her father kiss her like he would her mother?

Part 2) What about Swede's sudden pullback after he had kissed Merry as a child could have caused her militant behavior later in life?

Part 3) What about Swede's inability to understand the impact his kiss had on Merry suggests he is unable to relate to others in his life?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the character Lou Levov. What about Lou's upbringing influenced the way he raised his children and pushed his ideals on their lives?

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