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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 words does NOT describe how Clovis feels after he is beaten?

2. What does Victor want Gertie to do for him?

3. What does Max ask for when he comes to Gertie?

4. What happened to all of Gertie's savings?

5. Which of the following characters does Gertie find out leads a double life?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Gertie believe will be necessary in order for her to take Cassie's body home to the housing development?

2. Describe an incident of irony regarding Clovis and Gertie and Tipton Place.

3. What happens during the snowball fight between Gertie's children and the Dalys' children?

4. Describe the scene Gertie witnessed between the Daly and Meanwell children.

5. Why does Gertie rush down to interfere with Reuben and Mr. Daly after the fight?

6. Describe Gertie's days during chapters 20 - 23.

7. Why does Mrs. Daly suddenly stop the argument with Gertie?

8. What happens to Clovis at work one night?

9. Why does Sophronie ask Gertie to watch her children after they had their tonsils out?

10. How does Clovis attempt to make Gertie feel better after Cassie's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay describing what the knives in this novel represent. Use specific examples from the text to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay on the concept that this novel reflects on the idea of the American Dream. Use specific examples from the text to support your essay.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay on how the ending of the book might have been different had Cassie not been killed by the train. Use events in the text as a guide for your writing of what might have happened.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 778 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample