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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. John enjoys hearing Ede's "non sequiturs" (3). What does this describe in his daughter's speech?

2. What does John do to accommodate Edith's wishes?

3. What does Ede do when Billy tries to get his toy back from her?

4. What does Ede think the stuffed bear that Billy is holding is?

5. At the end of the story, what does John tell Edith he expects her to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Before John arrives at the party, why is Edith irritated with him?

2. What does John tell Edith about how he ended up fighting Joe, and what is the truth?

3. How do the mothers react to Ede, and how does she react to the party?

4. How does Edith prepare Ede for the party, and why?

5. How does Edith feel about talking to Mrs. Markey?

6. What does John Andros see as the drawbacks to being a father?

7. What does Edith do each weekday afternoon, and why?

8. How do John and Joe end up fighting?

9. What does John Andros enjoy about being a father?

10. What reason does the narrator give for the children's good behavior?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

John and Joe ride the train together each weekday to their jobs in the city. What is the significance of this? Consider what happens in the city in this story, versus what happens in the suburbs. Consider the roles of men and women in the story, and their physical locations as the action of the story unfolds. Write an essay in which you make and defend a claim about the significance of the fact that these two men commute to work together each day. Support your ideas with evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that makes and defends a claim about the characterization of Edith Andros. Support your assertions with evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay that compares and contrasts the altercations between Ede and Billy, Edith and Mrs. Markey, and John and Joe. Be sure that your essay advances a claim about the significance of the similarities and differences. Defend your arguments with evidence from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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