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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 is Mimi's full name?

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

3. What does Russell learn to love about Uncle Harold?

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

5. What does Herb do for a living?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain Mimi's childhood.

2. How successful is Hal's lumber company?

3. After failing one flight examination, how does Russell pass the next one with "Total Loss" Smith?

4. What is odd about the family's new Baltimore home?

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

6. What news prompts Lucy to send Russell out right away to sell his papers in 1939?

7. What is the first Civil Rights demonstration Russell sees in his life?

8. What incident happens early one morning as Russell delivers his papers?

9. What are Russell and Lucy's letters back and forth about?

10. Why doesn't Lucy approve of Mimi?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the work, Russell states that talk was the pastime of the Depression. How is this illustrated in the novel? What memories does Russell have of those times? Does Russell realize that the family is poor, or is he completely oblivious? How does the home in Belleville with Aunt Pat, Uncle Allen, etc. illustrate this point?

Essay Topic 2

Much of the work is centered around Russell's education, both formal and informal. Write an essay highlighting what you feel are the three most important things that Russell learned to help him into adulthood and shaped him as a person. Be sure to use properly cited quotations from the text, and present your argument in paragraph form.

Essay Topic 3

Examine Russell's relationship with Mimi. How did the two meet? When does Russell fall in love with her? Is he clear about when she falls in love with him? What is the central problem in their relationship? Discuss both sides of the "marriage argument:" why won't Russell marry her? How much influence does Lucy have over his opinions about marriage? What is the end result?

(see the answer keys)

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