View a FREE sample

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 problem with men who are in their 60s, according to Hildegarde?

2. What does Benjamin request of his father, regarding Hildegarde?

3. What is the problem with men who are 25, according to Hildegarde?

4. How had Benjamin once thought about his wife?

5. How is Benjamin able to enter the army as a captain?

Short Essay Questions

1. What had Benjamin hoped would happen regarding his reverse agin?

2. What is Benjamin’s reaction to seeing his reflection, upon returning from the war?

3. How have Benjamin’s feelings about aging changed since his return from the war?

4. How does Benjamin’s life improve over the years in Chapter 7 and 8? What is the exception?

5. Why is the truth about Benjamin’s birth not circulated as much as the wild rumors?

6. How does Benjamin save his business over 600 nails per year?

7. What attracts Hildegarde to Benjamin?

8. How does Benjamin end up back home from the Spanish-American War?

9. How does Benjamin continue to grow younger, both physical and mentally in Chapter 8?

10. What does Benjamin think about the Spanish-American War?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are groups of people today that would fall into a similar category as Benjamin back in 1860 - oddities that should be covered up and hidden? Although this story was written a century ago, how have things stayed the same regarding those who are different? How have things changed for the better for those who are different?

Essay Topic 2

When Mr. Button realizes his son is born an old man, how does he react? About what is he concerned? What does this reveal about him? How does he handle this new life with an unusual child? How does all this affect Benjamin?

Essay Topic 3

Benjamin finally gets his revenge on Yale by attending Harvard. What is his experience at Harvard like? How does his time at Harvard start to reveal the true downside to Benjamin's condition? How does it show that the end of Benjamin's life is near?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 847 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample