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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was the most significant thing that acid did for Hamper?
(a) Made him happy.
(b) Gave him a bad attitude.
(c) Destroyed reality.
(d) Turned everything purple.

2. How did Hamper and Joanie overcome their initial shyness toward each other?
(a) By spending time.
(b) By taking drugs.
(c) By failing history.
(d) By going to concerts.

3. At the end of Chapter Four, where was Hamper writing the book?
(a) In his kitchen.
(b) In a bar.
(c) In his girlfriend's living room.
(d) In a drafty shed.

4. Why did Hamper make the honor roll his sophomore year of high school?
(a) He had plenty of time to study while babysitting his younger siblings.
(b) He was still motivated from his freshman year.
(c) He decided he never wanted to work in a factory.
(d) His father was intimidating him into getting good grades.

5. What happened when Hamper was called in to see the guidance counselor at school?
(a) Hamper hated all the job choices that the counselor presented.
(b) The counselor could not find a suitable job for him.
(c) Hamper was too stoned to go.
(d) The counselor could only recommend blue-collar jobs.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did Hamper's maternal grandfather live?

2. What was Glen's dream job?

3. When a would-be employee arrived late and was rejected, what did he do?

4. What was the most unusual thing about Bob-A-Lou?

5. Why was Robert often angry when he got his check?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who were Lightnin' and Same-O? What did their lives say about Hamper's future?

2. How did Hamper begin to construct his life after high school? How was he alone and yet not alone during this time?

3. Hamper's father, though not a model of determination or reliability, often berated his son because of his poor grades. How did his cursing set the tone of their conversations about school?

4. When Hamper tells the story of people who disagree with the shop-rats' drinking, he writes much of the story in capital letters. What literary effect does this visual change have on the story?

5. What did Hamper say about his younger siblings? How did this give the reader another glimpse of family life?

6. What story does Hamper tell involving Lesley Gore's music? How does this story show that Hamper, if only for an hour and twelve minutes, transcended the shop-rat mindset?

7. How does Hamper describe the Cab Shop the first time he goes there? What about the description is the most informative about the scene?

8. How is Hamper's portrayal of his mother pathetic at times? Is it a fair character description?

9. When did the GM assembly line begin to look like an attractive option to Hamper? How did this demonstrate a change in Hamper's thinking?

10. What religious background did Hamper have during his childhood? How did religion shape his move into adulthood?

(see the answer keys)

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