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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. What organization does Mac want to join by meeting legitimate Mexican arrivals?

2. What does Charley do with the pills?

3. What is the name of the river mentioned in the Camera Eye section of pgs. 215-236?

4. In his meeting with McGill to address the strike, what does Ward propose?

5. Who quarrels with Ward in his office, threatening divorce?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. When Mac arrives in Mexico City, what changes does he experience in his employment?

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

4. What happens that makes Janey feel that she has made the "big time" at work?

5. How does Eleanor's employment situation change when Eveline returns from Europe?

6. Initially, what decision does Johnny make about Annabelle in pages 151-172?

7. What effect does the war have on Ward's relationship with Gertrude and his work?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Politics play a significant role throughout the entire book. In the 42nd Parallel, John dos Passos asks and sometimes offers occasional answers to big philosophical questions about the role and rights of workers in society, the equality of men and women, and important figures of the early 20th century. Do you find John dos Passos' arguments convincing? Why or why not? Do any of his characters show strong political opinions and, if so, about what? Describe.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study of Mac. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him at this point in his life?

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