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. Marley was named after the late singer Bob Marley. What kind of music did he make?

2. What medical diagnostic test would the Grogans be having a few weeks after finding out Jenny was pregnant?

3. While the Grogans were getting used to the news of Jenny's pregnancy, what did Marley do?

4. What fruit did Marley have an insatiable appetite for?

5. If Marley got into trouble while the Grogans were out, how did they know this when they got home?

Short Essay Questions

1. How was the Grogans' trip to Ireland?

2. Marley's terror of thunderstorms leads the Grogans to look for a good vet. What was the result of this?

3. What did the Grogans see as they left Lori's and what did they realize?

4. How did the Grogans chose Marley?

5. What was Jenny's second pregnancy like in the early stages?

6. Who was Buddy and what was the result of his visit to the Grogans?

7. Why did John decide to surprise Jenny with a three-week stay in Ireland?

8. What was happening in the Grogans' neighborhood a year or so after the birth of Patrick?

9. The day after the news of the first pregnancy's loss, what did John buy for Jenny and what was the result of this?

10. Once he did a little research, what did John learn about Labrador Retrievers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Conflict is a common element of writing, in both fiction and nonfiction. Why is conflict so often used in narratives? How can it help move a story along? Give four examples where conflict in Marley & Me occurs and how it helps explain the relationship between Marley and John Grogan.

Essay Topic 2

Define "the writer's purpose" and give four examples of different genres of writing and explain the writer's purpose for each one. Apply the definition to Marley & Me and discuss John Grogan's purpose in writing the memoir and if you think he has succeeded, with examples to back up your assertion.

Essay Topic 3

In reference to the plotting of Marley & Me:

(1) Why are the events of the memoir arranged as they are?

(2) What moves the narrative along? Is it external action or internal conflicts? Or a combination of both? Support your answer with examples.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 817 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample