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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How long did Child Welfare tell Arnold that Murray has to prove that he's stable enough to be Nick's guardian?

2. Who shouts for Murray from outside the door?

3. How long ago was the photograph taken of Arnold's children that he has on his desk?

4. Whom does Arnold apologize to on Murray's behalf?

5. What happened in the children's session that Sandra was put in charge of in grad school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The protagonist in the play is Murray Burns. When a protagonist of a story doesn't quite live up to hero status, he or she is sometimes referred to as an anti-hero. Discuss the ways that Murray Burns proves to the reader that he is an anti-hero. Do these qualities make him more likable? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Albert and Sandra are Child Welfare agents in the play A Thousand Clowns. Besides working together as partners, Sandra and Albert are also dating at the beginning of the play. Compare and contrast Sandra and Albert's characters in detail. Do they make good working partners? Why or why not? Do they make a good couple? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

In the play, A Thousand Clowns, Nick is in danger of being removed from Murray's care. This is obviously a serious issue and concern for most people, but why do you think the writer, Herb Gardner, took a comedic approach to something that could be so dramatic? What differences would the story have if it were a drama instead of a comedy? Would you have enjoyed the play as much? Which characters would change and which characters would remain the same? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 311 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample