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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 Bruce's mother want him to do after he walked home from work?

2. What type of childhood did Bruce have?

3. What does Bruce recall watching as he worked as a boy?

4. In school, Bruce was always too small and too ______________.

5. What was a taboo subject when Bruce was a teenager?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the nature of Bruce's father's work?

2. Who are the two friends that Bruce recalls as he reminisces about his childhood?

3. What were Bruce's school years like?

4. Who are Holly and Nola and what prompts Bruce to think of them?

5. Why is Bruce disappointed in his mother?

6. What happens when the girl's boyfriend realizes that Bruce has gotten fresh with her?

7. What does Bruce think about as he eats dinner in the hotel?

8. What two buildings does Bruce see that were important in his father's life?

9. Why does Bruce hate his father for his mother's sake?

10. How does the elevator episode show Bruce's feelings for Nola?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Project into the future ten years and write a brief synopsis for Bruce's life. Be sure to include emotional states as well as physical characteristics, geographic locations, work, hobbies, and socialization. Will he ever return to Salt Lake City?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 3

Describe Bruce. Begin with his physical characteristics and extend into his personality and behavioral traits. What is Bruce's role in his family? What is it about Bruce that men in authority want to help him achieve a brighter future?

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This section contains 807 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample