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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. Bull becomes a regular at what diner?

2. Why does Bull arrange for Ben to take Ansley Matthews on a date?

3. Who comes to the Meecham house in Chapter 8?

4. Where did Lillian learn about Bull's flight to Cuba?

5. Where does Bull stop so that everyone can go to the bathroom?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Bull want Ben to date Ansley Matthews? How does Ben feel about this date?

2. Why does Bull begin having breakfast at Hobie's Grill?

3. Why does Lillian defend Bull?

4. Why does Bull refuse to discuss with Lillian his assignment to fly over Cuba?

5. Why does Bull play war games with his children?

6. In Chapter 7, what does Bull do to wake his family? Why?

7. Who comes to Ben's aid after school when Red and his brothers attack him?

8. Who is Toomer? Why does Ben believe his mother encouraged him to go fishing with Toomer?

9. Bull gives a speech to the officers in his new squad. What does Bull tell them?

10. Why are the Meecham children less than enthusiastic about their father's return after a year's deployment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of coming of age. Name a few examples of this theme in the novel. Ben turns eighteen during this novel. Is this part of his coming of age? Does age have anything to do with maturity? What else effects Ben's change, his maturity? How does Ben's maturing change his relationship with others in the novel? What about Mary Anne? How does she mature in this novel? Does she change as much as Ben? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Who is Toomer? What impact does Toomer have on Ben's life? Why? hat does Toomer do for Ben that Bull cannot? Why can Bull not be the father for Ben that he needs? Why can Toomer provide these missing things for Ben? What does Toomer's presence in Ben's life say about his relationship with Bull?

Essay Topic 3

Who does Mary Anne most resemble, Lillian or Bull? Give some examples of this. Why does Mary Anne continuously attempted to goad her father? What does Mary Anne want from Bull? Why does Mary Anne talk about the future with such despair? Does Mary Anne really believe she will end up like her mother? Why? Is this why Mary Anne speaks of suicide?

(see the answer keys)

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