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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 one major reason Clay keeps repeating that he thinks they should let the Washingtons stay?

2. What is Rose upset about in Chapter 13?

3. What does Amanda call Rose that Rose dislikes?

4. What does Amanda tell Clay to get when they hear a knock at the door?

5. In Chapter 6, what does Archie want for breakfast that is not available?

Short Essay Questions

1. What racist thought does Amanda have about the Washingtons in relation to the vacation house?

2. What does G.H. offer to Clay and Amanda to try to convince them to let him and Ruth stay the night?

3. What does Amanda tell Ruth about how she wants to treat the information about whatever is happening in the world in terms of her children?

4. In Chapter 13, what does Rose see outside that is highly unusual and a bit unsettling?

5. What happens to Clay that unsettles him in Chapter 16?

6. In Chapter 12, why are G.H. and Ruth comforted by the things in the basement of the vacation house?

7. How do the adults try to get information about what is happening in the outside world in Chapter 11?

8. What habit does Clay have that is bad for his health but he still performs relentlessly?

9. Why does Clay indulge Rose's request to take many books to the beach?

10. How do both Clay and Amanda react when they hear a noise in Chapter 6?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Towards the end of the novel, as things get worse for Clay, Amanda, and their family, how does Clay begin to reassess who he is as a person, and what conclusions does he reach? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

What are some of the tactics and pressures G.H. employs to try to convince Amanda and Clay to agree to the arrangement he and Ruth are proposing that they will all stay in the Washingtons' house together, even though they are complete strangers? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 3

How do Amanda and Clay choose to handle the unfolding crisis in terms of sharing information with their children Archie and Rose, and why do they choose the path they do? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 708 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample