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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 date does Doc give Mack as his birthday?

2. Which of the boys have taken jobs at the Hediondo Cannery?

3. Where did Doc once take a walking trip?

4. On what do Doc and Frost place a bet?

5. Where did Doc go to college?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Mack impressed by Dora?

2. How do Mack and the boys react to ruining Doc's party?

3. What is ironic about Henri the Painter?

4. How does Mack perceive Doc?

5. What is the significance of the flagpole sitter at Holman's Department Store?

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

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

8. Which character seems to assimilate the combined woes of everyone in Cannery Row?

9. How does Steinbeck show that Cannery Row is an undesirable part of town?

10. What does Steinbeck believe about truth which is explained by Doc's walking trip during college?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although the residents of Cannery Row live on the fringe of acceptable society, they take care of each other. What is the bond between the residents of Cannery Row that makes them want to help each other even when others won't? Is there a common denominator among the Cannery Row residents that they recognize themselves in each other? Explain some situations in the book where the Cannery Row residents exhibit humanity toward one another.

Essay Topic 2

Cannery Row is populated with social outcasts and homeless people. What would become of these same people today? Re-write the characterizations and settings for the main characters. Explain the reasons for your changes.

Essay Topic 3

Even though Doc is a marine biologist, he tends to the needs of people and animals on Cannery Row, too. Name some examples of Doc's care toward people. How does he help animals? How does he rally the town's residents to help each other when widespread influenza hits?

(see the answer keys)

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