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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. Why did Posey lose her job at the hospital?

2. What happens when Miss Thelma's grandchildren come into her bedroom?

3. What does Posey tell Chick when he confesses his guilt to her on their one more day together?

4. Over dinner, what does Chick request his mother tell him about?

5. What does Posey stress to Chick as being the most important thing in his life while he is college?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What happens when Chick hears the strange voice once again?

3. Why was Posey not impressed with Chick's baseball scholarship?

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

5. What metaphor did Posey often use for the death of her patients when she was a nurse?

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

7. Who gave Chick his nickname?

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

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

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

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 one of the following and explain how it is a turning point within the plot:

1) Chick's car accident

2) The visit to Miss Thelma

3) The visit to the home of Chick's father

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the writer's style. Discuss in detail the writer's choice to structure his book in the way he has, the use of the newspaper clips and lists, his choice of words, his use of dialogue, and his choice of chapter names. Discuss how each of these choices affects the reader's overall impression of the novel and the themes within the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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