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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. Where do the Chance boys hide to watch their father's pitching attempts and philosophize together?

2. What was Hugh's father's profession?

3. How many different types of pitches does Hugh have according to Everett in Book One, Chapter 1?

4. What religion is Julie, Peter's high school girlfriend?

5. What action does Hugh apologize for profusely at the end of Book One?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Irwin cuss around Everett?

2. Why does Hugh tell Kincaid it is nonsense to paint a strike zone in his practice bullpen?

3. As Peter begins to ask and contemplate deep questions in Book Two, where does he turn to seek answers?

4. How do the boys name the pitches their father practices in Book Two?

5. What is revealed about the role that Everett and Irwin play within the Chance family during their conversations at the hedge in Book Two?

6. What reason does Papa give for Mama expecting twins in Chapter 1?

7. What trade does Doctor Franken offer to make with the Chance family in Book Three?

8. Why does Kincaid keep refusing to learn the memory verse in Book One?

9. Why are Irwin and the twins nonplussed by the "incriminating evidence" Elder Babcock and Laura show them against Peter, Everett, and Kincaid?

10. How did Papa lose his thumb?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is David James Duncan's writing style? Discuss both the mechanical aspect of his writing and his "voice" throughout the novel. Make sure to discuss what literary tools and devices he relies on most and what specific parts of the text reflect his voice.

Essay Topic 2

In the Brothers K, Duncan highlights several different strong female figures who go outside of the norm of typical gender roles of their time. Using at least two main characters from the novel, discuss what commentary Duncan is making about gender roles, particularly in regard to women in the United States.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout The Brothers K, Duncan uses imagery as a metaphor for the plot and character development. Give three specific examples of these metaphors and how they relate specific actions in the plot and/or character development. Discuss why or why not they are effective as literary tools augmenting the general action.

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