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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 the scary man carrying in his hand when he says hello to Jen as she sits on the cliff?

2. Wallace warns his kids when they get back that now would be a very bad time to do _______, and they promise not to do it.

3. What does a woman that Jen knows carry around with her in case she is ever in a situation where she found out she could not recover?

4. What is Wallace baking for the first time when Jen arrives at the house for the dinner?

5. Jen actually worries that the other people at the party will ask her if her father is _____________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Colin say in a letter that he sends to Jen during the time of Wallace's recuperation?

2. One morning, about a month after Wallace's surgery, what is the first thought in Jen's mind when she wakes up?

3. What is the exercise called where Jen lies in bed for hours on end each day, according to her conversation with Kathleen?

4. What is the embarrassing memory that Jen and Wallace share as they are talking about tumors and karma?

5. What does Jen think about the idea of scars on a person's face?

6. What does Jen decide that she needs to do in order to have more money in her life?

7. Why is Jen hurt by Kathleen's actions, even though Kathleen still doesn't want to change her plans for the night?

8. Why doesn't Randy go to see his dad when his dad is finally being released from the hospital?

9. What does Megan think about people like Wallace who get brain tumors for no apparent reason?

10. What does Jen do when she turns on the radio, trying to work out a new feeling she has about the tumor Wallace has?

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

The town of Clement seems to be a town which has attracted a number of weirdos in its confines.

Part 1: Why do you think the town has attracted so many 'weirdos'?

Part 2: Do you agree with Jen's description that there are weird people in the town?

Part 3: What do you think this town's population has to say about the state of Jen and her weirdness?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 760 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample