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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 did Goolrick's brother claim to do in one day?

2. What does Goolrick suddenly hear as George is threatening him?

3. What does Goolrick watch by the river that excites him?

4. What is the final question of the chapter?

5. What happened to the cream?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe why Goolrick was compelled to masturbate, in terms of how it made him feel and how it allowed him to escape.

3. What seems to be Goolrick's primary premise in "How I Went On"?

4. Explain Goolrick's graduation speech.

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

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

7. What does Goolrick mean by "how did they thrive so long, and then fail" at the end of this chapter?

8. Explain what happens when Goolrick tells his mother about the blood when he goes to the bathroom.

9. What does Goolrick mean when he points out that they boys thought he was one of them?

10. Summarize Goolrick's experiences during kindergarten and first grade.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Goolrick's mother clearly knew her husband had sexually molested their son at the age of four. Discuss her reaction. What did she do? Why do you think she acted this way? How did she behave in the days following the event? How did her inner fear poison her feelings for Goolrick? What should she have done? Why do you think she didn't?

Essay Topic 2

When Goolrick's father dies, Goolrick admits he had planned on feeling relief, but instead felt grief. Why do you think Goolrick felt anything, considering what his father did to him? What do you think Goolrick was likely truly grieving for? Based on the final chapter of the novel, how did Goolrick feel about his father? Was he a monster? Why or why not? Did Goolrick hate him, or feel sorry for him? Why? How do you think you would have felt in his situation?

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the major themes in the novel, and discuss it. Some examples of themes are child abuse, alcoholism, depression, and the lifestyle of the 1950s and 1960s. Include how Goolrick approached the theme, its purpose in the novel, how it was conveyed to the reader, and how the people in the book reacted to the scenarios this theme presented.

(see the answer keys)

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