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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 much does Paul win in the big race?

2. How does Mother respond when Paul asks her a question on her birthday?

3. How does Paul describe the changes in his life after his mother gets the money she wants?

4. What color are Paul's eyes after the party?

5. What strange luxury does Mother buy in the winter?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens after Paul tells Mother the winning name for the Derby?

2. What changes in Mother after she gets the birthday gift?

3. What does Mother say caused her family a lot of grief when she was younger?

4. What does the house say to Paul after his mother gets her birthday present?

5. What does Mother sense during the party she goes to?

6. What does Oscar help Paul plan to do with his winnings from the races?

7. How does the book end?

8. What happens at the Derby?

9. How does Paul learn about what happens at the Derby?

10. Why isn't Paul personally present at the Derby?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do you think Mother will change after the death of Paul?

Essay Topic 2

Many different characters in this plot were persuaded to do things that they would not have done of their own accord. What are some of these instances, and how did persuasion affect the course of the plot?

Essay Topic 3

Where did irony occur in the winning race, and how did this affect the tone of the book?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 577 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample