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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. When did John play a baseball game in Central Park that Albert described to Erwin?

2. What movie did John watch at the YMCA?

3. How much did John pay to watch a movie at the YMCA?

4. Where did John Caldwell find a solid oak table in Part 3, Chapter 17?

5. What is the name of the fact-checker from WPIX who is questioning man-on-the-street interviews at the hospital?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where did John Caldwell work in 1978, and what job did he really want?

2. How had John struggled in diction class at Julliard?

3. What did Fil find in her father's desk, and why was she upset?

4. How does Hazel have photos of her husband smiling?

5. At the end of Part 3, Chapter 23, why did John try to hide in the hospital lobby?

6. How did John's son die?

7. What did John Caldwell do when Vik followed him after he left the YMCA?

8. How was the snow described in Part 3, Chapter 16?

9. What had Erwin learned about people and stories throughout the years, and how did he feel about being their confidante?

10. How did Albert get away from the hospital?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the novel, some characters are more thoroughly described than others. Who are some characters that are merely named in passing or have a minor role in the novel? What is the importance of these flat characters to the storyline? In what way do these characters make the main characters more colorful or interesting? When there is conflict, what type of role do these flat characters play?

Essay Topic 2

Hazel struggles to believe that her husband is dead. Why does Hazel struggle to believe that her husband is dead? How does her grief affect her life?

Essay Topic 3

Metaphors and similes are figures of speech that are used to make comparisons between things. Metaphors seem to imply an equal comparison, while similes seem to imply a similarity between two things. Does the author use more metaphors or similes in the novel? How does the use of metaphors or similes help readers comprehend concepts? How does the use of metaphors or similes help readers make the writing more interesting?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 893 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample