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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 promise did the Captain make?

2. Who does the author introduce in a flashback at the end of Chapter One?

3. Who says, "Hello, Edward. I have been waiting for you."?

4. What does the young man at the Pier lose, causing havoc later?

5. What talent does Eddie have that eventually helps him escape from prison during the war?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter Six, what do the readers learn of Eddie's expectations of himself and from his life? Are these expectations met?

2. When the action returns to Ruby Pier, the reader finds the park closed. How does Eddie's death impact the Pier?

3. Discuss the meaning of the Captain's quote, "When you sacrifice something that is precious, you don't actually lose it. "

4. What is Eddie's role in the death of the Blue Man?

5. Why is Eddie confused about the fact that he is still on Ruby Pier?

6. Eddie no longer feels any pain. Why might his loss of pain be significant to being in Heaven?

7. Discuss Eddie's encounter with the first character he meets in Heaven, the Blue Man.

8. What happens at Freddy Free Fall to cause Eddie to reevaluate the safety of this ride?

9. What is the symbolism of the water in Chapter Two?

10. Discuss the significance of the title of Chapter Two, "The Journey."

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Albom introduces the reader to a little girl in Chapter One named Amy or Annie. Why is her name unspecified? Aside from the fact that Eddie tries to save her, what is her role in Eddie's life? What is Eddie's role in her life? How will the story continue to spin, even after the end of the novel, as outlined by the author?

Essay Topic 2

Albom changes the setting many times throughout the novel, but Ruby Pier remains as the main focus. Discuss how the Ruby Pier of Eddie's childhood, the Ruby Pier of the past, and the Ruby Pier of the present serve as effective settings for the novel.

Essay Topic 3

The Captain tells Eddie, "When you sacrifice something that is precious, you don't actually lose it. " (Chapter 7) How is the Captain's statement relevant to Eddie's entire life, not just to his leg injury? Be sure to cite at least three examples.

(see the answer keys)

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