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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 is Loretta arrested?

2. Who watches Loretta's children while Loretta goes out to make money?

3. Who cooks and waits up for Pat every night?

4. What happens when Jules visits Nadine?

5. In what city does most of the novel take place?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Jules get a rifle during the riot?

2. How does Maureen make money so she can leave her parents' house?

3. Why hasn't Maureen been able to get a job?

4. What happens to Loretta after her building burns down during the riots?

5. What is Jules and Nadine's relationship like after their reunion?

6. What happens to Bernard?

7. How does Jules meet Bernard?

8. What happens to Loretta and Bernie?

9. How does Loretta react when Maureen tells her about Jim?

10. What does Loretta think about her relationship with her children while she is in the shelter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bernard is a minor character, who plays an important role in the novel. Why is his character in the novel for such a short time? What is his impact on Jules' life? Why is his character in such sharp contrast to the other characters in the novel? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Jules and Maureen are both very optimistic as children, but are also capable of detaching themselves from frightening or emotionally damaging situations, such as their father's death. Is this an odd combination of character traits? Why or why not? What is the ultimate result of their hopefulness? Do you think that Betty is justified in ridiculing her siblings for their optimistic attitudes? Why or why not? In what ways are they similar to Loretta as a child? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Jules is involved with a series of women in his life, each of them very different from the others. Who are these women? Do they have one thing in common that attracts Jules to them? If so, what is it? How healthy are these relationships? What does each of these women have to offer Jules? What do they each take from him? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

(see the answer keys)

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