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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. How does Joe reassure Lila that he does not think less of her?

2. Where does Joe get new clothes to wear on his date with Lila?

3. What does Jeremy remind Lila about that helps her to break the code in Crystal's diary?

4. Why did Carl buy a gun the day Crystal was murdered?

5. What realization did Carl have while he was in prison?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lila believe will be revealed in the coded parts of Crystal's diary?

2. How does Joe handle the man who causes Lila to run from the bar?

3. What does Carl see before he leaves the hut that haunts him?

4. What does Carl do that causes Gibbs to want revenge?

5. What does Carl say is the real reason he ended up saving Virgil that day in Vietnam?

6. How is Joe able to survive the night lost in the woods and snow?

7. Why does the author include a chapter about the play, "The Glass Menagerie"?

8. What is discovered about Lila while they are at the bar after the play?

9. Why is it so important that Crystal wore glasses?

10. Why does the local sheriff take Joe to jail instead of home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Joe Talbert's mother always seems to be able to get Joe to do what she wants, even when he knows it will be a detriment to himself. How does Joe's mother manipulate him into doing what she wants? What does she use against him that causes him to give in to her time and again? Is Joe really a victim of his mother's behavior, or does he gain something from forgiving her for her issues?

Essay Topic 2

How does the rape and murder of the girl in Vietnam parallel the murder of Crystal Hagen? How does Carl's experience in Vietnam shed light on his behavior toward Crystal and why she might have viewed his behavior as creepy? What does Joe now believe about Crystal's murder and Carl's involvement after learning about Vietnam?

Essay Topic 3

Chapters 33 - 37 deal with Joe's kidnap and escape. What do we learn about Joe during his ordeal? What does he learn about himself? How might Joe have acquired the skills he needed to save himself? In what ways has Joe's character changed as a result of the ordeal?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 972 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample