View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why was Gino moved from his position as supervisor on the Rivet Line?

2. Why did Hamper begin writing?

3. What was Hamper and Jerry's scheme for getting extra hours (pg 149)?

4. What was the primary reason that Henry Jackson, the supervisor, hated Dave?

5. What was Dave's attitude toward humanity?

Short Essay Questions

1. During and after his first panic attack, what did Hamper realize about himself?

2. What new vehicle was the factory hired to build? How was this, written in Hamper's account of life, a sign of the times?

3. What was Hamper's opinion of the Flint Voice when he first read it? What expectations does this create in the reader's mind?

4. Hamper said that working on the Rivet Line was like being paid to flunk high school the rest of your life (pgs 185,188). How might this be true? Why is Hamper content with this lifestyle?

5. According to Hamper, why does the reading public not want to read about the working man? Is this a fair assessment?

6. What was the purpose of Hamper's food matching game (pgs 78-79)? What effect does the game have to the writing of this scene?

7. How did Hamper stumble onto writing? What does this say about him as a writer?

8. Hamper describes Paul Schobel's work techniques through a series of natural metaphors (pg 189). Why is this different from what might be expected? How is it humorous?

9. What was Hamper's reaction to the news that Louise Mandrell had ordered a GM Suburban? How does this fit what the reader already knows about Hamper's personality?

10. Who did Bob-A-Lou have a crush on? What does this reveal about his character and how was he different from most of the other factory workers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How was Hamper involved in writing throughout the course of his life? How did his attitude toward it change?

Essay Topic 2

How many women were involved in Hamper's life and what roles did they play? As seen by his relationships with Joanie and Janice, what were his attitudes toward women?

Essay Topic 3

As seen in several examples throughout the book, how did General Motors treat their employees? How did Hamper's stories shed an honest light on the company?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,828 words (approx. 7 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample