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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. Who confronts Conrad about quitting the swim team?

2. What is the significance of chapter 7?

3. As of the beginning of the novel, how long has Conrad been out of the hospital?

4. Which of the following is Conrad's third goal?

5. Why was Conrad in the hospital?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Cal want to get Conrad a car for Christmas?

2. What is Cal's role in his family?

3. How does chapter 13 represent a breakthrough for Conrad and his family?

4. According to Conrad, how does Beth feel about him?

5. Why does Cal want to see Dr. Berger in chapter 17?

6. What does Conrad prove by making an appointment with Dr. Berger?

7. When Beth and Cal attend a dinner party in chapter 8, what does Beth get angry about?

8. What causes Conrad to have his first pleasant memory about Jordan?

9. Describe Cal's first appointment with Dr. Berger.

10. How is Conrad's confidence boosted at the library?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Which items in the novel are symbols? Consider Jordan's death, the mental hospital, Conrad's bumper stickers, and the swim team in your analysis.

Essay Topic 2

Who is the protagonist of the novel? Who is the antagonist? How do both the protagonist and antagonist of "Ordinary People" contribute to the novel's conflict?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the development of the three main characters: Conrad, Beth, and Cal. Compare and contrast each character from the novel's introduction to the epilogue. What changes? What do they learn?

(see the answer keys)

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