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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. Frank's doctor is described as a ____________.

2. What does Frank try to do to Vicki when he returns from the interview in Detroit?

3. What does Frank have trouble doing at the hotel?

4. What is the weather like in Detroit this holiday weekend?

5. What does Paul have when he comes outside his house in Chapter 4?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Frank go through Vicki's purse?

2. How is the theme of quiet despair seen in the interview with the football player in Detroit?

3. What does Frank do when he has trouble sleeping at the hotel in Detroit?

4. What has X done since her divorce with Frank?

5. What happens while Frank is parked outside X's house in Chapter 4?

6. What is normal and mundane to Frank?

7. How is Frank's desire to both be a part of his family again and to allow his ex-wife to go on with her life without him evident?

8. What makes Frank's human-interest story, the interview with the football player in Detroit, difficult to write?

9. How does Frank's meeting with the football player in Detroit go? Why?

10. Why is Frank traveling to Detroit in Chapter 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Suicide is a very difficult thing to deal with. Even though Frank did not get along well with Walter, hearing of the suicide of Walter changed Frank and brought more despair and grief. Give examples from the story of how Frank dealt with Walter's suicide. Did the suicide bring up different feelings from those of the death of Frank's son Ralph? How? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Ralph's death from Reye's Syndrome caused a big shake up in the lives of Ralph's family, eventually even leading to divorce. How can Ralph's death be viewed as a foreshadowing event for both Frank and X? Be sure to include details and examples from the story to defend your answer.

Essay Topic 3

All people have changed throughout the story; however, some are more noticeable than others. Who do you believe has changed the most? Describe this change in detail, and support your answer with evidence from the book.

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