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 type of accident does Parker have at work?

2. What task does Francis have after Mason dies?

3. What also burned when Francis burned Mason's body?

4. How deep a hole must Francis dig in which to bury Mason?

5. What is a recurrent topic between Julian and his mother?

Short Essay Questions

1. What irony does Francis discover about Mason's life after Mason's death?

2. Explain the irony of Mr. Fortune's discipline of Mary.

3. What story does Francis tell the schoolteacher about Mason's death?

4. What is Mason's history of taking children in order to save them?

5. What does the schoolteacher consider hopeful after Mason's death?

6. Why is Mr. Fortune so drawn to Mary and not his other grandchildren?

7. What is the premise of PARKER'S BACK?

8. What does Francis do in the time shortly after Mason's death?

9. Why does Francis have such difficulty living with Mason?

10. Why is the schoolteacher so committed to saving Francis and what happens to him as a result?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Select three stories from this collection and explain the significance of their titles. What did the author mean by naming the stories like she did? Cite examples to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Select three characters from any of the stories and project into the future ten years and write a brief synopsis for their lives. Be sure to include emotional states as well as physical characteristics, geographic locations, work, hobbies, socialization, etc.

Essay Topic 3

The author uses some important instances of flashbacks in the stories. Explain what a flashback is and cite at least two making sure to explain what makes each a flashback.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 784 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample