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 does Chance do when Mr. Franklin gives him a piece of paper to read and sign?

2. When Chance changed the channel on the TV, what did he believe he could do?

3. What did Chance believe he could do just by turning the TV dial?

4. Where was the Old Man in the bedroom?

5. What separated the garden from the street?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 1, in what way does Chance feel safe and secure in the garden?

2. Why is Mr. Rand so impressed at dinner with Chance's description of having a suitable garden?

3. How does the day begin after the Old Man dies in Chapter 2 ?

4. When Chance is hit by the limousine and Mrs. Rand steps out, what is familiar about her to Chance?

5. In Chapter 1, when Chance is in the garden, what is his mood?

6. In Chapter 1, readers understand that Chance does exactly as he is told by the Old Man? Why is this?

7. Why does EE change Chance's name when he introduces himself?

8. What do readers learn in Chapter 1 about Chance's father?

9. Chapter 2 explains how Chance feels when he does not look at people. Explain this feeling.

10. After reading Chapter One, do you believe that Chance has the capacity to feel emotion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

If a person such as Chauncey Gardiner were to exist today, how would he be received by the public and the media? Would people today be just as taken with him as they are in the book? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Chance's father is never revealed in the book. It is only implied that the Old Man may be his actual father.

A) Explain why Jerzy Kosinski may have decided to keep the Old Man's identity so mysterious.

B) Other than Chance's father, who could the Old Man symbolize? Why?

C) Explore the Old Man's personality keeping in mind that he may be Chance's father.

Essay Topic 3

It can be said that throughout the book Chance is simply passing through the scenes on his way to somewhere else, with the Old Man's briefcase and suit. Where is Chance's ultimate destination? Why is he only passing through instead of stopping?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 821 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample