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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. Doc drives to the cliffs above the tidal flat and ____________ in the car.

2. On what pretense does Mack get Doc to admit his birth date?

3. Near Los Angeles, what does Doc load up on after he eats a hearty chicken dinner?

4. What time of day is it when Chapter 14 opens?

5. What does the flagpole sitter complain of on his second day?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why can Doc not get anyone to accompany him on specimen collecting trip to La Jolla?

2. What raises the ire of the normally even-tempered Doc while on the road?

3. Describe Steinbeck's use of humor in the frog-catching scene.

4. How does Doc respond to Mack's request to know Doc's birth date?

5. Why is Mack impressed by Dora?

6. What impact have Mack and the boys had on the captain?

7. How does Mack extract the date of Doc's birthday?

8. What is the irony of the tax troubles Dora experiences?

9. What bet does Doc make with Frost on the Fourth of July?

10. Describe Mary Talbot.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mack and the boys are forced to be very resourceful. Give some examples of behaviors exhibited by Mack and the boys that indicate they know how to get what they need in spite of their obvious lack of typical resources. Would you say Mack and the boys are creative? Or do they simply use people to avoid work? Do you think you could be friends with Mack and the boys? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Mack and the boys are a band of homeless men who live together in a warehouse they name the Palace Flophouse. Why do Mack and the boys become like a family after a while? How do they exhibit behaviors inherent in families? What lessons is Steinbeck trying to teach about the various ways that families can be created, outside of the obvious biological combinations?

Essay Topic 3

What does Doc discover about truth on his walking trip from Indiana to Florida during his college days? Why do you think people do not want to believe Doc's real reasons for walking? Why does Doc need to fabricate a story about his journey? Why does Steinbeck call truth a dangerous mistress?

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This section contains 951 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample