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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. Sandy resolves not to let who down?

2. While working at the hotel, how did Sandy encounter Harriet?

3. When they go home, how does Sister Johnson feel?

4. Whose writings moved Sandy?

5. One day, working at Mrs. Prentiss's, he dropped his broom and did what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Hager's funeral.

2. How is the title, "The Doors of Life," significant?

3. What was the worst incident Sandy had to deal with at the hotel?

4. Of what does this first chapter largely consist?

5. How does Sandy change when he begins to focus on his education? Is this good or bad?

6. What does Hager have to say about the soul and the world?

7. How does Sandy's life change after Hager's death?

8. Why does Sandy want to move to Chicago?

9. How did reading affect Sandy? Is this good? Why or why not?

10. What takes place in the Pool Hall? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many conversations about life take place between the chapters.

Part 1) Describe two of these conversations. Why do they take place? What do they reveal about the characters involved in the conversation? What do they reveal about others in the story?

Part 2) What do these conversations reveal about the culture of the time? What do they also reveal about our culture today? How has our culture changed since this time? Is this a positive change? Why or why not?

Part 3) How can you relate to these conversations? When have you had similar conversations? How are conversations about life necessary? How do conversations such as these aid one in understanding oneself and others?

Essay Topic 2

Sandy, by the end of the book, decides to focus on his education.

Part 1) Describe Sandy's education throughout the book. At what points does he become excited about learning? Why does he become excited about learning? How does this excitement affect him?

Part 2) How might this decision affect Sandy for the rest of his life? How important is it that Harriett supports this decision? Explain. How does this decision reflect Sandy's upbringing in Tempy and Aunt Hager's care?

Part 3) Do you believe that education is important in your own life? Why or why not? What do you believe is important in your own life? Why?

Essay Topic 3

A carnival and revival take place on the same day only a half mile apart.

Part 1) Describe the events surrounding this carnival and the revival. Why has the author put both of these events on the same day near each other? What does this reveal about the characters and the culture at the time?

Part 2) How might people act today if there were both a carnival and church revival on the same day? Would the reaction be the same? Why or why not?

Part 3) How are these two events similar? How are they different? What do they have to say about how people spend their leisure time? What does it also say about one's priorities in life?

(see the answer keys)

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