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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 reasons does Laura give for sending her pony Troy away by whipping him with her reins?

2. How long does Laura wait before she finds out whether Leo and Bobby are alive or dead inside the drug dealer's house?

3. While Laura reports that she enjoys looking at most pornographic pictures in magazines, there are some she does not like looking at because they contain a certain element. What is that element?

4. Besides being glued to the television, what other reason does Laura give for both Leo and Bobby being unwilling to accompany her to her destination?

5. What lie does Bobby tell Laura's parents when he calls her house on the night they go with Leo to the drug dealer's house?

Short Essay Questions

1. What retort does BOB give to Laura's idea to call the police and tell them about the abuse BOB is inflicting on her?

2. What behavior of Laura's is particularly worrisome to Laura's mom and what does Laura plan to do about it?

3. How does BOB know the details of the orgy that Laura attended?

4. What action does Laura finally take when she is desperate to stop her cocaine withdrawals?

5. How do Bobby and Laura spend New Year's Eve of 1987?

6. What offer does Laura make to BOB in an attempt to make him go away forever?

7. When Bobby asks Laura on New Year's Eve if she thinks that cocaine is a problem for her, what is her reply?

8. What is the significance of the first sentence that Johnny speaks aloud?

9. How does Bobby end up shooting a man as Laura, Leo, and Bobby flee the gunfire at the drug dealer's house?

10. Discuss the meaning of Laura's poem on page 128 entitled "In the Eyes of the Visitor."

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Trace the character development utilized by the author to depict Laura over the four years of the novel's narrative. Look in particular at the changes in Laura's diction, mood, and other aspects of language over time. How do Laura's changes in language communicate crucial information to the reader without Laura having to tell us? Support your points with quotes from the novel.

Essay Topic 2

In what ways is humor shown to be an effective survival strategy within the novel? Prove your points with concrete examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the significance of Laura's meeting with the Log Lady. What is the author's purpose for including this scene and what message does the scene send to the reader? Support your answer with quotes from the scene and from elsewhere within the novel.

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This section contains 1,185 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample