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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 is the name of the horse that Joe claims to have won?

2. Tom tells Joe that he has had a problem with _______________.

3. What is Murphy's real name?

4. Who is the frightening woman who Dudley invites to the bar?

5. Who is the girl that Dudley wants to marry?

Short Essay Questions

1. What things does Joe tell Tom to buy?

2. How does Joe explain Tom's love for Kitty and how Kitty deserves to have a nicer life?

3. How does the usually skeptical Joe know that Tom and Kitty love each other?

4. How does Tom play into Kitty's childhood dreams of what she wanted for her life?

5. What activity in the hallway interrupts Kitty's melancholy state?

6. A man called The Arab has a standard answer for everything. What does the Arab say?

7. How does Joe verbally keep Tom in a subordinate position?

8. How does the author show Kitty's distress through her body language?

9. What is Joe's opinion on work and money?

10. On what topic does Tom uncharacteristically challenge Joe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE is set in 1939--following the Great Depression in America and before the start of World War II. What impact did these two major events have on Saroyan? What impact did they have on his work, especially THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE. Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study on Joe. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him--if anything--at this point in his life?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the role of women in the 1930s when the women in the novel are living their lives. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century women do not have?

(see the answer keys)

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