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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 car does Theo’s father drive when they leave the Las Vegas airport in Chapter 5: “Badr al-Dine”?

2. Who wrote The Grapes of Wrath?

3. What is Mrs. Barbour’s first name?

4. How many surgeries does Hobie say Pippa had last week for broken bones in Chapter 4: “Morphine Lollipop”?

5. Who is the author of The Heart is a Lonely Hunter?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Theo come to be in possession of the ring and painting in Chapter 1: “Boy with a Skull”?

2. Who informs Theo of his father’s death in Chapter 6: “Wind, Sand and Stars”? How does Theo respond?

3. How does Theo come to the realization that his mother has died in Chapter 2: “The Anatomy Lesson”?

4. Where is Pippa being taken in Chapter 4: “Morphine Lollipop”? Why? How does Pippa feel about her circumstances?

5. What is the significance of the dream that is described by the narrator in Chapter 1: “Boy with a Skull”?

6. How does the narrator describe his mother in Chapter 1: “Boy with a Skull”?

7. What information does Theo learn regarding his grandparents in Chapter 3: “Park Avenue”?

8. What obstacle appears in Theo’s and Boris’s friendship in Chapter 6: “Wind, Sand and Stars”?

9. What do Theo and Hobie discuss on Theo’s first visit in Chapter 4: “Morphine Lollipop”?

10. How does Theo describe the sexual undertones of his friendship with Boris in Chapter 6: “Wind, Sand and Stars”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the characters of Mrs. Barbour, Platt, and Kitsey when they are reintroduced in Chapter 9. How have each of these characters changed since Theo last saw them? How has Theo changed? What new relationships does Theo form with the Barbour family at this point?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Theo’s “secret” – the hidden painting – and his reasons for keeping this secret to himself. What does Theo envision as the consequences he might face for having taken the painting from the museum? Are these fears well-founded? Why or why not? What would be the wisest course of action for Theo to take regarding the painting?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Theo’s friendships with Boris and with Hobie in the novel. How would you compare these friendships? What are some of the positive aspects of Theo’s new friendship with Boris? What are some of the negative aspects of the relationship?

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