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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. Whose death forces Mac's family to move to Chicago?

2. Johnny often finds Annabelle in the company of _____________.

3. How many boxes does the tailor give Fainy?

4. Where does J. Ward Moorehouse grow up?

5. While Johnny works at a real estate office, what does he really want to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What occurs at Mrs. Kovach's house when Fainy and Bingham spend the night?

2. What decision does Mac make regarding Maisie and her pregnancy?

3. What happens when Fainy and Bingham ride the train to Michigan?

4. What does Fred Hoff offer Mac?

5. What kind of personality does Janey have?

6. Describe Janey.

7. What happens at the theater? What does Mac do?

8. Who is Annabelle Marie Strang, and why is she important to Johnny?

9. Where does Mac live with Maisie and what is their relationship?

10. What do Fred Hoff and Mac share in common?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The 42nd Parallel is written from the third-person point of view where the narrator is an outsider who can report only what he or she sees and hears. This narrator can tell us what is happening, but he cannot tell us the thoughts of the characters. This method allows the author to establish the setting and to supply background information to the reader about people, places, and events. Is this method effective? Why or why not? Would a first-person narrative be more or less appealing? Describe.

Essay Topic 2

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of discontentment in the 42nd Parallel. Identify at least two characters who either embody or experience discontentment. Cite an example to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

When Mac travels to Mexico, he does not go for physical reasons. Instead, he goes to stimulate his mind and to free his spirit. What is the significance of taking a spiritual journey versus just a physical one? How does this affect Mac in particular?

Part 1) What is the difference in the journeys of Mac versus that of Janey?

Part 2) Describe Mac's final experience and how it varies greatly from his first trip. What new friends has he made? What fears has he conquered? What relationships has he formed, and what relationships has he severed? Why?

Part 3) Of the five main characters, who gains the most knowledge and understanding from traveling? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 833 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample