View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What grade does Miller make when he finishes this high school class?

2. What does Miller believe about himself that affects his school performance?

3. In Chapter 10, Miller tells the story of giving a talk. Where does Miller give his talk?

4. In Chapter 11 on work ethics, what sacrifices does success often require early in one's life?

5. In Chapter 9, Miller describes a story of watching a girl who met and broke up with several girls. What is the setting of the meetings between this girl and the boys?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 7, Manhood, Miller attends a Promise Keepers rally and then joins the organization. However, he struggles with this membership. Why did he join and what were his struggles?

2. Chapter 11 is short and Miller learns some very valuable life lessons. What is different about this chapter?

3. In Chapter 9, why does Miller say that he dated?

4. Miller learns the secret to a successful love relationship from a married friend. According this married friend, what is this secret and what does it look like?

5. What event changes Miller's attitude about his ability to be a good student in high school?

6. As an adult, Miller often found himself having difficulty fitting in with the men in his church and life, particularly in his Bible study class. What did he think the problem was?

7. According to Miller, what does saying no to sex have in common with protecting the value of the American dollar?

8. In Chapter 7, Miller states that his definition of manhood changed over time. How did it change?

9. Miller learns to play chess from a friend. He also tells a story about a man, Salome Thomas-El teaching boys from a ghetto to play chess. He sees a connection between playing chess and life for young men raised without fathers. What is this connection?

10. In Chapter 9, Girls, Miller asserts that growing up without a father has left him poorly prepared to be in a relationship. Why is this surprising?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapters 2 and 4, Miller identifies three key turning points in his life: a.) David Gentiles; b.) reading President Eisenhower's autobiography; c.) taking a harrowing trip up a mountain with John MacMurray to photograph a sunset. Discuss these turning points and what Miller learns from each. What do these turning points have in common? What makes these turning points in his life?

Essay Topic 2

Miller's writes this memoir about his life as a child raised without a father and the impact this had on his life. However, the role the rest of his family plays in his life is minimally addressed in this book. He refers occasionally to other family members. What do you know about his family when you finish this book? Who does he identify? How does he describe them? What do you believe Miller wants you to believe about his family members? What do you know about his relationship with the family that he does discuss? What techniques does he use to present his family to the reader? Do these techniques work? What do you wish you knew about his family? How would knowing this effect your reaction to this book?

Essay Topic 3

In this memoir, Miller uses stories from his life to share his journey to adulthood with the reader. What was the original message or theme of this book? As you read the final chapter, how has the original focus and message changed? Who was his intended audience? Has this changed by the end of the book? Support your rationale with examples from the book.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,388 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample