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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 is another of Bobby's nicknames for John?

2. When Bobby goes to Stella Maris after driving away from his winter residence, who does he visit with?

3. After returning to New Orleans, why does Kline say that Bobby would make a bad fugitive?

4. In the non-italicized section of Chapter 5, what kind of fish do Bobby and John eat for lunch?

5. In the italicized section of Chapter 5, what is Bobby's original major at college?

Short Essay Questions

1. After recounting his time in Eastern State, why does John say that he is somewhat reluctant about Tulsa being back in his life?

2. Who does Bobby meet after talking to the guys in suits again?

3. How does the person that Bobby meets with after talking to the guys in suits know that Bobby's sister was beautiful?

4. Who shows up in the girl's recovery room? How do they look? What is the girl's response?

5. One night while Bobby is in Wartburg, Bobby mentions Alice's papers. Who is Alice? What happened to her?

6. What does Kline think is happening to Bobby in regard to Bobby doing dumb things?

7. As a child what does Bobby find in the woods?

8. After Bobby returns from Tucson and meets up with Kline, why does Bobby say that he cannot get on with his life?

9. What is Bobby's response to the IRS agent at the post office?

10. What happens to Bobby when goes to the jack-up rig?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are guys in suits who question Bobby, and his bank account is frozen by the IRS. How do these elements serve the story? How do they serve the author's intentions for the story? How do they serve to suggest a life that is out of Bobby's control? How do they serve to show ideas of struggle and surrender? How do these ideas relate to the reader's world?

Essay Topic 2

What is the structure of each chapter? Why does the author structure the story in the way that he does? How does this structure support the overall feel of the book?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the Thalidomide Kid. Write about him as if you are explaining him and his character to someone who has not read the book. What are the Kid's important aspects? What are the important things to know about the Kid in order to understand his essence as it relates to the book?

(see the answer keys)

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