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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 did Chick find his greatest joy during the bleak years after baseball?

2. What day does Chick believe was one of the happiest of his mother's life?

3. Who does Chick claim was a ghost throughout his childhood?

4. What kind of scholarship did Chick get to help pay for college?

5. What does Miss Thelma's family think she is doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who encourages Chick to leave town the day of his mother's birthday? Why?

2. What does the Italian woman say when she catches sight of Posey and Chick in her mirror?

3. What does Chick claim he does not want to be?

4. Who gave Chick his nickname?

5. What explanation does Posey give to Chick about how people are dying call her to their sides?

6. What do Posey and Chick talk about over dinner?

7. Why does Chick suspect he is suffering from temporary insanity?

8. Who does Chick say the ghost in his life truly was?

9. What do they call a short stay in professional baseball?

10. What did Posey often do for some of the patients in the hospital where she worked as a nurse?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Chick want to commit suicide? What causes Chick to become that depressed? Does Chick's decision have anything to do with either of his parents? In what way? Does Chick's wife or daughter have anything to do with his decision to commit suicide? Explain. When does Chick realize suicide is not the right answer? Why does Chick decide he must live? How much credit can Chick's mother take for helping Chick change his mind? Was Chick's mother really there with him or was she just a figment of his damaged brain? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Rose and Miss Thelma. Who is Rose? Why is Posey visiting her home? How does Posey know Rose is about to die? What is Posey attempting to do about that fact? Why does Chick not question his mother's apparent knowledge of death? Who is Miss Thelma? In what capacity did she once work for the Benetto family? What business did Posey go into with Miss Thelma? Why do Thelma's grandchildren not see Chick? What does Chick think of this?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following themes in detail, citing examples from the novel:

1) Death

2) Suicide

3) Father-Son Relationships

4) Mother-Son Relationships

(see the answer keys)

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