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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. Why does Father not go to the Pole with Perry?

2. Where do the police find the mother of the baby?

3. What was a popular type of entertainment show in those days?

4. What do the Hebrew letters on storefronts look like to Evelyn?

5. What type of labor was favored in the factories then?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Houdini thrown out of Bellevue Hospital?

2. How do the second generation Irish feel about the new immigrants?

3. What is the nature of Evelyn's testimony in Harry's trial?

4. What does Tateh notice about The Girl on their train trip.

5. What infatuation comes over Mother's Younger brother?

6. How are Tateh and The Girl rescued from being separated?

7. Who are the famous psychologists who visit New York at this time and what is their reaction?

8. What is the gossip about Evelyn's disappearances to visit The Girl?

9. What are Tateh's plans for him and The Girl as they leave New York?

10. How is Father sent off on his trip with the Perry expedition to the North Pole?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a paper on the subject of art as seen in the novel. Take it from Tateh's silhouettes to Morgan's collection. Tateh's cutout silhouettes and movie books are art for the people. On the other hand, Morgans fabulous art collection are limited to the upper classes. Tateh's art leads him to film animation and making movies. Morgan's art is nearly destroyed in one quick action. Mother's association with art is limited to putting up Egyptian wallpaper. Your paper should discuss how art influences people and the value of art as an equalizer.

Essay Topic 2

Write a paper comparing Evelyn Nesbit with notorious movie stars of the 20th century. A good comparison might be to Marilyn Monroe. Compare their beginnings, Evelyn's posing nude for a statue and Marilyn appearing nude in Playboy Magazine, their notoriety in the press, and their many romantic entanglements. Doctorow suggests that Evelyn is the model for all the show business women who followed her. This should be a fun paper to write.

Essay Topic 3

Coalhouse Walker, Jr., plays Scott Joplin ragtime in the novel. Do some research and write a brief paper about the composer Scott Joplin. Why does Doctorow use the musical genre as the title of his book? To what extent do you think the music of an era defines that era?

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