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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. Why does Mother act the way she does during the big race?

2. How does Paul act during the big race?

3. Whose permission does Mother need to get the money she wants on her birthday?

4. What keeps Mother at the party after she wants to leave?

5. What is hired for Paul after Mother gets her birthday money?

Short Essay Questions

1. What ends up actually happening with Paul's winnings from the races?

2. How does Paul respond when Mother tries to help him when she gets worried about him?

3. What keeps Mother at the party when she wants to leave?

4. How is Mother unlucky even after getting rich?

5. What happens at the Derby?

6. What does Mother do when she begins getting worried about Paul?

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

8. What is the first thing Mother does when she comes home from her party?

9. How does the author describe Paul as he discovers the name of the winning Derby horse?

10. Why does Paul think he was able to predict all the horse winners?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

What do you think is the main moral of this story? Please support your answer with specific citations from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Despair was a theme that was placed in a number of sensitive places in this plot. What are some of these places, and what role did despair play in this book?

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