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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 is the composer of the Double Concerto that Mr. Fredericks wants Claude to play at the music festival?

2. How does Mr. Weisfeld react when Claude rushes from the basement of the music store and wakes Mr. Weisfeld in his apartment in the middle of the night?

3. Who introduces Claude to Mr. Levits, a talent manager?

4. What movie particularly interests Claude because of its story line, which he relates to his life?

5. Why does Emma return to New York City during the questioning process about her suspected communist activities?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Catherine Fisk tell Claude when he asks her why she invited him to the Bentley School mixer?

2. How does Claude demonstrate drive and fortitude in his preparation to play with Mr. Fredericks at the music festival?

3. Regarding the music store, how does Claude show his love for Mr. Weisfeld after Mr. Weisfeld's death?

4. What is the importance of the seats Emma and Claude's real father choose to sit in and watch his performance, even though they have not been in contact for many years?

5. What evidence is there that Claude does not relate well to children, especially regarding the movies and Catherine Marsh?

6. Why is Claude's friendship with Ivan Andrews an important relationship?

7. After Mr. Powers has Claude's past investigated, what information does Emma give Claude about his father?

8. How has Catherine's attitude toward Claude changed from when they were children?

9. Why is driving a cab an unusual choice of work for Emma, Claude's mother?

10. What evidence shows the eccentric and flamboyant behavior of Aldo Frescobaldi, the violinist whom Claude accompanies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What clues or hints does the author provide that help prepare you for the ending of the story? Do you think these clues are important as you read the story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Choose three events from the story which would be most unlikely to occur in real life. Give examples from the story to show how the realistic possibility of these events is achieved in the story.

Essay Topic 3

How is the social class and occupation of each character important? How does the economic, political, and social environment affect the lives of Emma and Claude and Lady Powers? Give examples to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,060 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample