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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. How early is school dismissed on Friday afternoons when there is a football game?

2. How much of a bonus do Vera's waitresses get if they get the workers out the door on time morning and noon?

3. How many regulars does Alec have that he can depend to come to the hotel in Chapter 17?

4. What type of concert did Vera get Stanley to attend with her?

5. During the summer vacation, how much time do Daniel and his grandfather spend working in Alec's garden?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Vera and Daniel move their things in Chapter 14?

2. Why is November a difficult time for Vera?

3. Why does Daniel play hooky in May in Chapter 18?

4. How does Alec feel once he realizes that Vera and Daniel are gone for good?

5. What idea does Stutz give Vera for work?

6. What options does Vera have for work in Connaught?

7. What advice does Alec give Daniel about dancing?

8. Why does Vera buy a television and where does she put it?

9. In Chapter 11, what does Vera do when Alec wears a hat to dinner?

10. What did Alec try to get Earl to do after he graduated from high school and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Vera struggles after her mother’s death and after leaving the army. Why does Vera struggle after her mother’s death and after leaving the army? How do those incidents cause her to struggle and affect her self-esteem?

Essay Topic 2

Although Alec talks about Earl as though he is someplace far away, Earl is dead. How long ago did Earl die? How does he still affect family dynamics years after his death?

Essay Topic 3

Allusions are figures of speech used when an author mentions a person, place, or thing, but does not provide background information about the person, place, or thing. What are some allusions that the author uses in the book? Is research required to understand the allusions the author makes? Does the use of allusions make understanding what is happening difficult?

(see the answer keys)

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