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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. Who says, "Is where you were supposed to be, Eddie Main-ten-ance"?

2. What does Eddie tell his father at the diner?

3. How many lessons have been learned thus far?

4. What does the author show the reader through all of Eddie's five people?

5. How does Eddie feel about his life without Marguerite?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the stranger Eddie meets in Chapter Eight so significant in his life?

2. Why does Ruby know all of the details of Eddie's father?

3. What does the reader learn about Eddie through the short snippets describing his various birthdays?

4. How does Albom use Eddie's birthdays to pass time in Chapter Twelve?

5. How does Eddie's father die?

6. What symbols does the author use in Chapter Twelve?

7. Eddie washes Tala with a stone. What is the significance of this action?

8. At this point, Albom has shown the reader a span of seventy-five years in only ten, short chapters. How is Albom's storytelling effective?

9. Explain Ruby's lesson to Eddie.

10. For what was Eddie supposed to save his money, instead of gambling?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In most novels, minor characters are simply used to assist the plot. In THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN, however, Albom uses minor characters to more profoundly impact his protagonist. Discuss how Mickey Shea, Eddie's father, and Ruby are essential to move the plot along.

Essay Topic 2

Mitch Albom effectively uses his own experiences with relatives to create Eddie and his other characters. Draw connections between the people in Albom's life and those in Eddie's life. Write an essay paralleling the similarities and contrasting the differences.

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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