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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 Ruth's manager?

2. What is the name of Halina's son?

3. Who talks Ruth out of seeing Rocky again?

4. What does Andrew call his church?

5. What does Rocky send Ruth?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way does James think his mother is a success?

2. Why does Ruth struggle to find a place she wants to be buried?

3. Describe the wedding James and Ruth attend in this chapter.

4. In what way do Ruth and Andrew become more involved in religion in Chapter 23?

5. How does Ruth cope with her abortion?

6. How does Andrew help Ruth get over her mother's death?

7. Describe the character of Andrew.

8. How does Rocky try to take advantage of Ruth?

9. What does James later learn about his mother's driving skills?

10. Describe the time James tried to teach his mother how to drive.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Ruth treat her past with such disregard? How has Ruth's view of the past affected James and his siblings? How has Ruth harmed herself by disregarding her past?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Examine what the following generations experienced during their time in America:

1) Ruth's grandparents

2) Ruth's parents

3) Ruth and her siblings

4) James and his siblings

(see the answer keys)

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