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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. In the News Reel about Minor C. Fields, what is the name of the company he formed?

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

3. When the play closes after two weeks, what does Eleanor and Eveline fail to receive?

4. Whom does Eleanor meet while looking at paintings at the Art Institute?

5. Whom did Charley and Ed Walter date from the amusement park?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ward want in his line of work, and how does he achieve it?

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

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

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

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

6. How does Mac act in a similar fashion in Mexico City as he did in California?

7. Why does Eleanor befriend Miss Eliza Perkins?

8. What does Mac do when the Zapata arrives in Mexico City?

9. What happens when Ward accepts the job from McGill?

10. What does Charley do for work in Minneapolis when he moves there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The 42nd Parallel was known as the major storm path across North America. The 42nd parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 42 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean. The 42nd Parallel of latitude runs right through the heart of the United States. What do you think of John dos Passos' choice of title for the book? Is it appropriate? Explain. How does this title relate to the five characters of Fainy McCreary (Mac), Janey, J. Ward Moorehouse, Eleanor Stoddard, and Charley Anderson?

Essay Topic 2

Every main character in the 42nd Parallel (Janey, Mac, Ward, Eleanor, and Charley) wants to find a purpose in life and seeks meaning through self-expression. Which characters find purpose and direction to their lives and in what ways? Which characters do not achieve this? Explain.

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 872 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample