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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 name does Zach give the town where he, Tom, and Willie are vacationing?

2. Which is NOT one of the reasons that Zach is worried about his parents?

3. What news does Mrs. Hartridge share with Willie?

4. What does Willie teach himself to do after Zach dies?

5. What does Zach give to Willie when Zach packs to leave for London?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the psychiatrist and Tom differ in their assessment of Willie's recovery needs?

2. How is Chapter 13, "Carol Singing" a milestone in Tom's life?

3. What is the relationship between Zach and his parents? Why would the reader question this relationship?

4. At first, how does Zach's death affect Wiliie?

5. In Chapter 15, "Home," what more does the reader learn about Mrs. Beech that has not been revealed before this chapter?

6. Now that Willie has arrived back in London, both he and his mother can see how much he has changed. What changes are there in Willie and how do these changes affect his relationship with his mother?

7. How is Chapter 16, "The Search" suspenseful?

8. What has Carrie asked of Mrs. Hartridge that is out of character for a girl of this period, and what might its effects be on the town of Weirwold.

9. How does the war change the lives of those in Weirwold forever in Chapter 21, "Back to School"?

10. What does everyone at the rehearsal discover about Willie? How does this discovery affect him? How is this discovery not surprising?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does WWII personally affect Tom, Willie, Zach and Mrs. Hartridige? How are they changed by it?

Essay Topic 2

Though the reader is never told why Mrs. Beech commits suicide, one can infer as to why. Express your opinion as to why she did and support you answer with specific incidents from the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Zach's and Willie's characters.

(see the answer keys)

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