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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 is Mary contemplating on this evening?

2. Where did Rudolph get the money to attend college?

3. What is in the box Teddy gives Rudolph?

4. Which of the following is not a reason for Axel's depression?

5. What has Rudolph done that Mr. Calderwood is not very pleased about?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the two major sources of Rudolph's depression and frustration?

2. What is the state of Mary's physical and mental health?

3. What is the significance of the Communist charges brought against Professor Denton?

4. Explain the complications of Axel's decision to pay off the father of the girls who have accused Thomas of statutory rape.

5. What happens to Thomas as a result of his beating Mr. Greening?

6. What behavior does Gretchen seem unable to shake?

7. Explain the foreshadowing of Axel's being in a boat.

8. Explain how Thomas is Axel's least favorite child but Thomas is most like Axel.

9. Who does Thomas fight at the gym and why is he so violent?

10. What happens to the $5000 Thomas gives back to Rudolph?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain how Rudolph's role as protagonist evolves as the plot extends. How does Rudolph change from the hard-working boy in a bakery to a manipulative businessman and politician? What are Rudolph's motivators? Is Rudolph the typical protagonist hero?

Essay Topic 2

Alcohol abuse seems to be an unnamed character in the book. How pervasive is the abuse? Why does it have such a prevalent place in the characters' lives? How does it affect the abusers? How does it affect those impacted by the abusers? Explain how an inanimate object or characteristic can be a character.

Essay Topic 3

The story begins in America during World War II. Explain the significance of this war on America in general and the Jordache family specifically. What impact did the war have on the choices that the Jordaches made? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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