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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. Who shows up in Richard's life to teach him lessons?

2. Who does Richard take on an airplane ride in Chapter 10?

3. In Chapter 17, Richard tells a story about hanging out with friends who want to ___________________.

4. What is Richard doing with friends on Tiger Mountain?

5. When explaining the different levels that make up his whole being, Richard tells Dickie that he envisions himself as ______________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Richard's pattern for dealing with life's challenges, and how can Dickie possibly help him in this area?

2. Describe the time that a woman came to Richard and started discussing his thoughts.

3. What conflict does Richard realize he has regarding relating to Dickie?

4. Explain the metaphor of being captain of your own ship as Richard explains it to Dickie.

5. Describe Dickie's sense of accomplishment in the water tower incident.

6. Describe what Richard sees when Leslie encourages him to remember when he was nine, right after his brother's death.

7. When Leslie prods him, what memories does Richard recall that might be the source of Dickie's anger?

8. What is the purpose of different people coming into Richard's life?

9. What role do angels play in Richard's life?

10. What does Dickie manage to teach to Richard even though Richard is providing instruction during the flight?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Richard was no stranger to hurt and pain. From what you know of Richard's life through this book, what were his biggest sorrows and worst betrayals? How did he manage through them? How did his coping skills evidence themselves in many aspects of his life? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the book. Why would Dickie feel a different kind of loneliness from the loneliness that Richard experiences? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 3

Richard used more than one iteration on the theme of loss. Identify at least two examples about loss in the book and then explain why the examples support the theme.

(see the answer keys)

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