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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 name of the county where Peck grows up?

2. What play does the following line come from: "The quality of mercy is not strained"?

3. What time of day and season is it when the first scene begins?

4. Who does Big Papa vote for?

5. What happens with Li'l Bit at school in 1970?

Short Essay Questions

1. What trick does Jerome play on Li'l Bit?

2. What is the mood of the two characters when Peck arrives for Li'l Bit's 18th birthday?

3. Explain Peck's theory of "fire" and people.

4. At age 11, can Li'l Bit actually drive?

5. Peck talks Li'l Bit into lying beside him in the bed, promising nothing happens. Li'l Bit agrees. How does this make her feel?

6. Who is Li'l Bit's cousin and what is his name?

7. What purpose does the Greek Chorus serve in "How I Learned to Drive"?

8. Why does Li'l Bit not want to be called by that name any longer in the family dinner scene?

9. Describe Greg, the boy who asks Li'l Bit to dance.

10. What does Peck do that takes away Li'l Bit's anger during the photo shoot?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In one scene, Peck takes Cousin Bobby fishing. Bobby becomes upset that the fish are being hurt, and Peck attempts to comfort Bobby. Does Peck have ulterior motives in comforting Bobby? Explain your reasons.

Essay Topic 2

Early in the play, Aunt Mary encourages Peck to talk to an upset Li'l Bit because he can handle her. Later, Aunt Mary tells the audience that Li'l Bit wraps Peck around her finger and is using him. Yet the first incident occurs when Li'l Bit is 17; the second is when Li'l Bit is 13. Explain these two different actions and perspectives from Aunt Mary.

Essay Topic 3

"How I Learned to Drive" jumps back and forth in time. The focus is on Li'l Bit's age, starting when she's 17, then 18, and then 16. The climax of the story is when she's 11, and it ends when she's 35. Why do you think the author does this?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 618 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample