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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. Which of the following characters believes that a sandwich outdoors tastes different from indoors?

2. How old is Mrs. Bentley?

3. What is considered Douglas and Tom's first rite of the summer?

4. How much more money does Douglas need to buy the new sneakers himself?

5. What does the Happiness Machine actually result in?

Short Essay Questions

1. What ruins Douglas' zest for life and desire to take in every new detail?

2. What does the Green Machine offer to Miss Fern and Miss Roberta that is suddenly taken away after the accident?

3. How do Tom's fears come to surround him, make him feel, and expand into his imagination?

4. How does Leo rationalize to a displeased Lena that the Happiness Machine is a necessity?

5. In what ways was the fact that change is difficult for children reinforced in this section of the novel?

6. Why does Douglas believe that he must get new sneakers to keep his new found sense of aliveness?

7. 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?

8. Based on Tom's habit of keeping statistics, what idea does Douglas implement himself?

9. Name two examples where Douglas tried to cling to something in order to control destiny or change.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is the theme of tradition versus change developed throughout the novel? Use specific examples from the text to support your statements. Do you believe the author does a good job at developing this theme? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Describe how Mr. Jonas and Douglas can be considered kindred souls. Use examples from the text to support your answer. Do you believe this meshing of minds and souls is what led to Douglas' healing? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

How are the themes of man and nature developed throughout the novel. Use specific examples from the text to support your statements. Do you believe the author does a good job at developing these themes? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 712 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample