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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 aids Mac in his new business venture?

2. What place do they go to first on their journey in Europe that Annabelle dislikes?

3. Where does a strike occur that results in violence, press coverage, and investigations?

4. Where does Joe take his date to see a show in pages 257-282?

5. Who gives Eleanor money to start her own business in New York?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Ward and Gertrude's relationship change after they have children?

2. When Janey first arrives in New York, what is her initial impression?

3. After Ward leaves Annabelle, where does he live, and what is life like there?

4. What is Eleanor's relationship with her father?

5. What does Charley decide to do when the pregnancy is terminated?

6. After the play fails, how does Eleanor recover?

7. What new relationships does Mac form in Mexico City?

8. When Eveline and Eleanor's business fails, what job opportunity do they take?

9. Why does Janey quit her job and look for new work?

10. What effect does Annabelle's decision to terminate her pregnancy have on Ward?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

John Dos Passos offers a compelling narrative told in an unorthodox and experimental fashion using "Newsreels" with blaring headlines, autobiographical "Camera Eye" sections with poetic stream-of-consciousness, and "biographies" evoking emblematic historical figures like J.P. Morgan, Henry Ford, John Reed, Frank Lloyd Wright, Thorstein Veblen, and the Unknown Soldier. Do you find this style interesting to read? Are you able to follow the story line easily, or are these changes erratic and confusing for you as a reader? Does John dos Passos offer powerful storytelling that holds your attention? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

John dos Passos is known for paying homage to various authors and works of literature. Choose at least four references used in the book. Write at least 250 words on each reference. Also add your opinion as to why dos Passos chose that particular author or reference.

Essay Topic 3

Describe some of the settings for the stories in the 42nd Parallel. What is the overall setting? Be sure to include geography, time period, and any pertinent popular culture events. Why did the author choose to use these places in the stories of the 42nd Parallel?

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This section contains 895 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample