View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Daniel say that he and his friend Lyle drank that Lyle's mother hid under the kitchen sink?

2. What color did Vera dye her hair after her mother died?

3. How old was Vera when she left home?

4. When Alec's wife was alive, what was the only garden chore he had?

5. In Chapter 10, what baseball player does Alec tout to Daniel?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Alec remember doing in his dream in Chapter 1?

2. How did Martha die?

3. What did Vera do when she and some of her army companions went to visit New York City?

4. Who are Vera and Daniel's fellow passengers on the bus in Chapter 2?

5. What caused Vera to hate her father?

6. What was Alec's first job, and how did he get it?

7. What does Alec say about Yankee fans?

8. How does Vera meet Stanley?

9. When and where did Bob the housepainter propose to Vera, and how did he respond?

10. What type of marker is on Martha's grave?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Imagery is a literary device authors use to describe something using the five senses to help readers experience what a character is experiencing. How does the author use imagery to help readers imagine the world he has created?

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, some characters are more thoroughly described than others. Who are some characters that are merely named in passing or have a minor role in the novel? What is the importance of these flat characters to the storyline? In what way do these characters make the main characters more colorful or interesting? When there is conflict, what type of role do these flat characters play?

Essay Topic 3

Alec and Daniel have a man-to-man talk. Why do Alec and Daniel have a man-to-man talk? Why is important for Alec to give Daniel advice about growing up?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 833 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample