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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 news is Carrie waiting impatiently at the gate to give Zach after his return from the sea?

2. In the beginning of Chapter 18, "The Recovery," what does Tom recommend Willie do after his nightmare?

3. After finishing the scenery for the Christmas show, what job does Willie next take on?

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

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Once again, there is great suspense. Describe the suspense in Chapter 17, "The Rescue."

4. Once again in this novel, two people with tragedy in their lives will come together and help each other heal. In Chapter 20, "Spooky Cott" who does Willie meet and how will their meeting help each of them?

5. In Chapter 14, "New Beginnings," there are a few actual new beginnings. What are they, and what changes will they bring to the lives of the characters?

6. Chapter 18, is called "Recovery." Specifically, how does Willie begin to recover, and who helps him do so in this chapter?

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

8. Whose points of view are seen throughout Chapter 16, "The Search"? Explain what is seen by each.

9. What does Tom reveal for the first time in "The Show Must Go On"? Why does he reveal it and to whom?

10. By the end of Chapter 19, "The Sea! The Sea! The Sea!," Tom's character has changed from the man that he was before Willie came into his life. How has Tom changed and how is it specifically seen in this chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is Mrs. Beech hypocritical and what does this say about the ideas that she taught her son? What did she teach her son specifically? When and how does the reader learn about what Mrs. Beech has taught Willie?

Essay Topic 2

Why is Geoffrey brought into the novel? How does he help in the healing of Willie?

Essay Topic 3

How does the theater play more than one role in the novel? What are its affects on the main characters?

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