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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. Tom explains that the last they heard from their father he sent them a postcard from somewhere near the Pacific coast of Mexico with no return address. What was written on the postcard?

2. How does Amanda want Laura to pay Mr. Garfinkl at the store?

3. Who did Amanda say that a young lady would ask about a man's character to ensure he wasn't a drinker when she was younger?

4. When does Amanda tell Tom she will speak to him?

5. What does Amanda tell Tom she believes he has been doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Tom's role in the play?

2. In what way does Amanda tell Tom she wouldn't mind him emulating his father?

3. At the end of scene three what does Tom say to Amanda that makes her angry?

4. Describe what Amanda wears to her D.A.R. meetings.

5. When and where does the story take place?

6. What does Amanda tell Tom to wait on before he leaves for the merchant marines?

7. What reasons are discussed for the lack of gentlemen callers that Laura will be receiving that evening in scene one?

8. What does Amanda tell Laura she needs to cultivate?

9. Why are some of the things Tom and Amanda fighting at the start of scene three?

10. How is the play conducted to show that it is a memory?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why do you think Amanda was so quick to accuse Tom of knowing that Jim was engaged and inviting him over regardless? Do you think that she really believed that or was she just angry? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Do you think that Jim would have kissed Laura if she had not remembered him from his high school years when he was so popular? Compare Amanda and Jim's characters.

Essay Topic 3

Would the family had been better off if Jim had not come to dinner? Would Tom have stayed longer even though he had already paid his dues to The Union of Merchant Seamen? What makes you think this?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 748 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample