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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. Where does Douglas record his time traveling encounter?

2. What does Grandfather need to press with the dandelions Douglas and his brother collect?

3. What do Miss Fern and Miss Roberta hide?

4. In what state does this novel take place?

5. How does the children's disbelief make Helen feel?

Short Essay Questions

1. What can be said that Leo has tampered with when he follows through on building the Happiness Machine?

2. Describe a typical summer night for Douglas' family.

3. How did Helen overcome her exasperation at the children not being able to accept the fact that she was once young?

4. How does Douglas convince the shoe store owner to give him the new shoes and how does this process help the shoe store owner himself?

5. What does the beating of the rugs symbolize to Douglas and Tom both?

6. What is Leo having a difficult time resolving in his own mind that he discusses albeit briefly with Douglas?

7. Why did the accident with Mr. Quartermain distress Miss Fern and Miss Roberta so much?

8. What new revelation does Douglas come to by dividing up his summer?

9. What revelation does Leo come to after the Happiness Machine burns?

10. What brings Douglas comfort after so many things that he loves have all changed and ended at once?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Clara and Elmira could be described as representing good and evil. Would you agree with this description? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

What does the end of the summer mark for Douglas? Do you believe that this change was for the positive or negative? Why do you feel that way?

Essay Topic 3

Death is an ongoing issue which must be dealt with throughout the novel. Describe the similarities and differences between how the children dealt with death and how the adults did. Make connections between this and your own personal experience.

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This section contains 648 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample