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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. Which animal does Jen live with, even though it is a little wild and likes to urinate all over her things?

2. What is the sport that Eric and Jen were playing when they first met each other?

3. Jen resents the fact that she has to go clean a ____________ house for four hours as a part of her way to make money.

4. Who does Jen call when she is upset about the tumor and this person comes immediately over to see her?

5. What do the brothers not do with their father as they seem to think this is unmanly, even in the circumstances?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens in order to wake Wallace up and to get him talking to his children in the room?

2. What are the worries that Wallace has as he begins to undergo the process of removing the problem from his body?

3. What happens between the children before they decide to go into the hospital after the surgery?

4. Why does Wallace decide to make up a will before he goes into surgery?

5. Why doesn't Eric like to talk about his feelings when Jen tries to get him to do so?

6. What does Kathleen offer as an explanation for what happened at Jen and her meeting?

7. What happens every Tuesday night in Jen's life, according to the story?

8. Why does Jen decide that she wants to clean houses for a living, at least at this point of the story?

9. What does Sarah say is completely normal when the children walk into the hospital room?

10. What happens when Jen gets really drunk after calling up Kathleen after their missed appointment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jen is a person who seems to avoid pain and sadness by drinking and by doing drugs.

Part 1: Why do you think Jen doesn't want to handle the pain any other way?

Part 2: Do you think that Jen should find other ways to cope with her feelings?

Part 3: How do you cope when you have things happen in your life which might be seen as tragic?

Essay Topic 2

Jen seems to be just getting by in life, working only enough to support herself and her writing time.

Part 1: How do you feel about the character of Jen in this story?

Part 2: Why do you think Jen doesn't want to do more with her life?

Part 3: Do you think it's a good idea to simply work to create time for pleasure?

Essay Topic 3

Randy presents his father with the dead heron, which he has now gotten stuffed.

Part 1: Why do you think Randy felt this was an appropriate present?

Part 2: What do you think the dead heron symbolizes for the family?

Part 3: Do you think that Wallace appreciates the gift?

(see the answer keys)

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