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. How long has Goolrick lived alone?

2. Why did the McClouds throw Goolrick out?

3. Why was town an exciting place?

4. What did the children do with the jars of cream?

5. What did Goolrick do at age thirteen for a local paper?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain what happened when Goolrick was a boy, when he was invited to a sleep over at the McClouds.

2. Explain what happened to Goolrick when he was four years old.

3. Describe the creek and explain why it is "violently sexy".

4. Explain what Goolrick means by calling his brother "a sly one" (pg. 124).

5. Explain what happened the morning after Goolrick was molested.

6. Explain Mrs. Lackman's process for bathroom breaks, and why it doesn't work with the children.

7. Explain how Goolrick and his siblings coerce their mother into buying things, and how they pay for it.

8. Explain that pageants of Mrs. Lackman's classes.

9. Describe Mrs. Lackman's son.

10. Explain the confrontation between Goolrick and his mother in the first grade.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following chapters / sections of the novel, and analyze it, in depth. What was it included in the book? What was the point of the section? What does the section discuss? How is this important to the overall themes presented in the novel?

- Aunt Dodo

- The volleyball match at the hospital

- The Cowboy Sandwich

Essay Topic 2

At the time of her death, Goolrick spent hours driving back and forth from home to the hospital in order to spend time with his mother. When no one else would go, Goolrick went, making sure to deliver news, as needed. When his mother was actually dying, however, Goolrick left her alone, and he claims he does not know why. Knowing what you know about Goolrick and his mother's relationship, why do you think Goolrick left his mother to die alone in a hospital? Do you think he did it out of spite, fear, anger, or was it simply an unconscious decision? Be sure to base your answer on information from the book.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, there are mentions of how Goolrick was treated differently than the other children by his parents. Locate at least five examples of how Goolrick was treated differently, and explain them, in detail. What are the examples? What do they suggest about how Mother and Father felt about Goolrick? Why do you think they felt this way? How do you think these actions made Goolrick feel?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,168 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample