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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 does Paul do during the big race?

2. Where does Mother go on her birthday?

3. What does the author say Paul's eyes blaze with at the end of the book?

4. What color is Paul wearing when he makes the pick for the final race?

5. How much money did Paul win at the Lincoln races?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Mother get for her birthday?

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

5. What causes Mother to become more connected to Paul?

6. What does Paul get as a result of his mother's birthday present?

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

8. How does the book end?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Fear is a common theme in this book that is presented a number of times by a number of characters. What are some of these instances, and how does fear affect the characters in the book?

Essay Topic 2

What role did money play in this short story, and do you agree with the message the author was trying to send through this inclusion of the theme of money?

Essay Topic 3

What are your feelings about luck after reading this story, and how did the importance placed on luck by the main characters in this book change that ideal?

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This section contains 589 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample