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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 does Thurber have to talk Mother out of doing?

2. How long does it take for Columbus to get back to normal?

3. What is the name of Thurber's next door neighbors?

4. What does Grandfather say he recommended over the REO?

5. What part of Columbus is beyond danger?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Thurber's mother get overexcited in this chapter?

2. Summarize chapter five.

3. Describe how the family erupts into chaos in the first chapter.

4. Why does Father dislike pushing the car?

5. What does Aunt write that she observed from the flood?

6. How did people react to the claim the dam had burst?

7. How does Thurber react when he hears the ghost?

8. How does Mother get the neighbor's attention?

9. How do the family have to start the old REO?

10. What does Thurber say about earthquakes in this chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is Thurber's father's relationship with his sons? How does Thurber express the complexity of this relationship? How does Thurber's relationship with his father affect him?

Essay Topic 2

What problems did Thurber have in his middle years? How does he express these problems in the final chapter? In what way does the final chapter change the tone of the book?

Essay Topic 3

How does Thurber use real life situations to create humor? What serious statements does Thurber make within his humor?

(see the answer keys)

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