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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. Melony makes Homer promise that he will stay at the orphanage as long as what in Chapter 3?

2. How many of John Irving's novels have been adapted to film?

3. Dr. Larch is surprised to see that the woman in the pornographic photo is whom in Chapter 3?

4. In what historical era does the story begin?

5. Who is the founder and doctor of the hospital who runs the orphanage in the novel?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the book Jane Eyre relate to the main characters in Chapter 4? What heroic act does Homer do in this chapter?

2. What imagery does the author use in describing Homer's walks from the girls' division at the orphanage in Chapter 3? What is symbolic about this imagery?

3. How is Homer Wells described in Chapter 1? How is Homer viewed by Dr. Larch and the nurses?

4. What is Dr. Larch's reaction to Homer's leaving the orphanage in Chapter 5? What is foreshadowed?

5. Why does the prostitute's daughter come to Dr. Larch in Chapter 2?

6. How is the atmosphere described in the beginning of Chapter 5? What is symbolic in this description?

7. What is symbolic about Homer's naming of the baby in Chapter 4?

8. What does the character of Melony symbolize in Homer's life in Chapter 3?

9. What causes Homer's first two adoptive families to return him to the orphanage in Chapter 1?

10. Where does Dr. Larch decide to go when leaving Boston in Chapter 2? Who invites him to a party and why, in this chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the book Gray's Anatomy and Dr. Larch's medical training for Homer. Why does Dr. Larch give this book to Homer? Why does Dr. Larch choose to train Homer in his practice? Does Homer feel that Dr. Larch is wrong to perform abortions? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Define and discuss conflict in literary narrative, and identify the major conflicts in "The Cider House Rules". What internal conflicts does Melony face? What external conflicts? What conflicts does Dr. Larch face in regards to Homer? What external conflicts does the character face regarding the orphanage?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the settings of Ocean's View Orchards and the cider house, and the character of Grace Lynch. To what does Homer compare the cider house? How does Homer feel about Grace? How does she feel about Homer?

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