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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 kind of food is the family taking home?

2. At what time of year were the orphanages shuttled from party to party, expected to be grateful?

3. How long does it take for Joe Louis to defeat Max Schmeling?

4. What does Russell actually do when he receives his present on Christmas?

5. What was the black street in Russell's neighborhood?

Short Essay Questions

1. What class at school is torture for Russell, and why?

2. How does Russell remember Uncle Harold?

3. What happens on Russell and Mimi's date to Washington?

4. Why is Russell denied membership to his high school honor's society?

5. Why doesn't Lucy approve of Mimi?

6. When Lucy announces she and Herb will marry, how does Russell feel?

7. Who is Mary Leslie?

8. How does Charlie Sussman help Russell go to college?

9. When Germany surrenders, where is Russell sent to await orders?

10. After Belleville, where does the family move?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Lucy's obsession with "a home of our own." Is this her ultimate goal? How does she work toward this goal? Choose three instances from the text to illustrate Lucy's desire for a home of their own. How does she finally achieve this goal? How does her achievement affect Russell's life?

Essay Topic 2

Part of growing up is testing boundaries. How does Russell begin to test his boundaries with Lucy? How old is he? How old is she? Even as a child, how much does Russell understand about being punished by Lucy? Why does she decide to punish him in such a way? Who is more upset by Russell's punishments--Russell or Lucy? Why does Russell refuse to cry? Use these leading questions to create a profile of young Russell, battling against Lucy's determination that he will make something of himself.

Essay Topic 3

Examine Lucy's letters to and from Oluf. Though Russell did not discover these letters until later in life, they represent an important part of Lucy's history. Go through each letter provided in the text and make a chronicle of the relationship between Lucy and Oluf--what would such a relationship have meant to her? Why must the two break off the romance? Does young Russell notice anything amiss in their day to day life? Be sure to cite quotations from the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 604 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample