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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 is the name of James' stepsister?

2. How did James view his mother as a young boy?

3. Who comes to meet James when his mother does not show up?

4. Who does James say his older siblings revere?

5. What does James say he and his siblings are confused by?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the problems in dating Peter?

2. Describe Ruth's father's work.

3. Describe Sam's life.

4. Why did James think his mother was strange?

5. How does James react to Hunter's death?

6. How does Ruth's family react to her pregnancy?

7. Describe James' brother, Dennis.

8. How does Peter change Ruth's life?

9. Why does James hit the boy he meets on the bus?

10. Describe what happens when Ruth asks James to take the milk back to the shop.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss differences between the novel and autobiography formats. What are the main elements of a novel? What are the main elements of an autobiography? What can novelists express that an autobiographer cannot? How can autobiographies keep to the facts while still maintaining a level of entertainment?

Essay Topic 2

Identify the main themes of the story. Why do you think these themes are so important to the story? How does McBride use character and setting to express his themes?

Essay Topic 3

Compare McBride's character to his mother's character. What are their similarities and differences? What did James learn from his mother? How did James' mother's situation and personality motivate her?

(see the answer keys)

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