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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. Whom does Mac meet in the park in Los Angeles that is an old friend of his?

2. Whom does Johnny meet on the train that is from a wealthy family?

3. At whose house does Fainy stay when he sees Bingham being chased with a shotgun?

4. Where does the train bound for San Francisco take Ike and Fainy?

5. What does Johnny's new job offer him as pay?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Johnny do for work, and why does he move to Ocean City?

2. Where does Janey work in Washington DC? What knowledge does she acquire?

3. When Fainy accepts a job with Doc Bingham, what does he learn about his new place of employment right away?

4. What effect did Uncle Tim have on Mac?

5. Why does Johnny have to leave college?

6. What kind of personality does Janey have?

7. What could Maisie have done to keep Mac in Los Angeles with her?

8. How does Mac learn independence?

9. Describe Johnny Ward Morehouse.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the concept of loneliness as it is exhibited in the 42nd Parallel. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 2

The 42nd Parallel is an example of fictional realism. What does that classification entail? Why does this novel fit into this category? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

The working class American is an important figure of John Dos Passos' work. In the 42nd Parallel, Dos Passos tracks the gritty lives of the working and middle class Americans with whom he identifies. Before the New Deal, what was the biggest struggle for working class Americans? Does John dos Passos offer realistic and insightful characterizations and descriptions of early 20th century life in the United States? Explain your thoughts.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 830 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample