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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. Marley liked to wander in his later years and one night he was gone for a long time. Where did John find him?

2. What had John hoped to find that day on September 11, 2003?

3. J.I. Rodale was the leader in the back-to-the-earth movement in the 1960s. What magazine did he publish?

4. How much would Marley get paid for the movie he was in?

5. What was Marley's response to the farm animals?

Short Essay Questions

1. Marley recovered from his illness. How did John know that Marley was back to his old self?

2. Why did John decide to visit Shanksville, Pennsylvania in 2003?

3. John was dedicated to an organic living style, so the family decided to invest in something. What was it and why? In regards to this, what did their neighbor warn them not to do, but they did anyway?

4. What was the family hoping for in regard to the weather in their new home in the north? What was the outcome of this?

5. Due to Marley's continuing bad behavior, John decided to read a book on dog training called No Bad Dogs. Who wrote the book and what did the author say about badly behaved dogs?

6. What happened not long after John's fortieth birthday that convinced him Marley's fear of thunderstorms was justified?

7. Before Jenny and the children returned from Boston, Marley became dangerously ill. What was wrong with him and what was the outlook?

8. John decided to leave Organic Gardening after realizing that life is too short not to do what one wants to do. What did he decide to do instead and how did it change his lifestyle?

9. How did Marley manage to get a part in a movie? How did John feel about that?

10. What were the sequence of events behind John's getting an interview at Organic Gardening magazine?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define the component of the literary element of plot known as "exposition". What purpose does it serve in writing? Give four examples of Grogan's use of exposition in Marley & Me that enhance the memoir.

Essay Topic 2

How role does the Grogan family play in the memoir Marley & Me? Are they as important to the narrative as the author and the dog are? Give four examples where the other members of the family are central to the story-telling. Give four examples where the narrative is focused only on John and Marley.

Essay Topic 3

What are some techniques John Grogan use to make the real events of his life with Marley come alive? Illustrate with one or two examples for each technique.

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