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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 impresses Steinbeck at the rest stops?

2. Where does Steinbeck go to reminisce with an old friend?

3. To what does Steinbeck liken the group's verbal taunts?

4. Where is Steinbeck's last stop in California?

5. What historical attraction does Steinbeck visit in Montana?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the irony in the scene where Steinbeck and Charley explore a sequoia grove.

2. What is the purpose of Steinbeck's stop in Texas?

3. What happens to Steinbeck in Minneapolis/St. Paul?

4. What does Steinbeck admire most about Texans?

5. Why does Steinbeck fall in love with Montana?

6. Describe Lonesome Harry.

7. How does Steinbeck justify his opinion that the river crossing at Bismarck is the true demarcation between east and west?

8. What is the irony of the situation Steinbeck encounters at the Canadian border?

9. What lessons does Steinbeck learn about house trailers in 1960 that could also apply to 2009?

10. What philosophical thoughts does Steinbeck have when he passes into Idaho?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain why Steinbeck thinks that people are basically nomads at heart. Do most people favor putting down roots or moving around? What are the benefits and drawbacks to both ways of life? Why does the development of the mobile home increase options for Americans?

Essay Topic 2

What lessons about bureaucracy does Steinbeck learn at the U.S.-Canadian border? What are Steinbeck's opinions about governments, their laws and the people they put in place to enforce them? How does Steinbeck separate his hate for governments from his love for countries?

Essay Topic 3

Envision the encounter between Steinbeck and the Shakespearean performer. How do you envision the performer to look? How does he behave? Based on Steinbeck's low-key, unassuming nature, do you think Steinbeck enjoys the theatrics of this man? Or is he annoyed by the overuse of drama? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 822 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample