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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 kind of church is the Suffolk High School graduation ceremony held in?

2. Which of the following is Ruth's real name?

3. Where does David work?

4. What building does James stand in front of in August 1992?

5. Who does James go out for a walk with at the end of the book?

Short Essay Questions

1. Summarize the book.

2. What problems do Ruth and Andrew have getting married?

3. Why is James anxious to move to Delaware?

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

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

6. How does James feel about his father?

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

8. Describe Halina's time in an underground prison.

9. How does Ruth's relationship with Andrew affect her family life?

10. In what way does James' life take a turn for the better in Delaware?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What events in James' early life influenced him to become a musician? How different do the students think James' life would have been if she had not grown up in poverty?

Essay Topic 2

Examine McBride's writing style. How would you describe his prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? Does he use any specific writing techniques? What meaning does McBride's style give to his story?

Essay Topic 3

Compare the characters of Hunter Jordan and Andrew McBride.

1) What attracted both of them to Ruth?

2) How did they both improve Ruth's life?

3) What were their similarities and differences?

(see the answer keys)

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