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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 name does the narrator give his "weapon"?

2. When the narrator tells his father that he forgot to pack something important for the Michigan trip, what happens?

3. Soon after consuming three taffy apples, four hot dogs, and two root beers at the County Fair, what else does Randy ingest?

4. What person does the forty-seven pound pumpkin at the County Fair resemble?

5. What is the Old Man's absolute favorite ride at the County Fair?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the house next door to the Shepherds transform after the Bumpus family moves in?

2. How does the Old Man feel towards the Bumpus family?

3. What happens when Randy, the Old Man, and the narrator ride the Whirligig Rocket Whip?

4. Where do the Bumpuses make their illegal liquor?

5. How does Delbert Bumpus disrupt life at school?

6. Where does the narrator find a top worthy of a battle against Scut Farkas, the school's bully and master top spinner?

7. Describe the yard of the Bumpus family.

8. Describe the Shepherd family's arrival at Ollie Hopnoodle's resort in Clear Lake.

9. Describe the race that the Old Man and the narrator watch at the County Fair.

10. On departure day, why does the Shepherd family fail to leave for their annual trip at six in the morning as planned?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

After the narrator opens a box that he receives as an adult and peruses through the childhood treasures found inside, he decides to pack everything back up and hide it on the top shelf of a closet. Explain what this says about the author's viewpoint on stirring up the past.

Essay Topic 2

The book's time line covers the narrator's childhood and teen years. How does the narrator change, develop, and grow from the beginning to the end of the book? In what ways do the stories evolve? In what instances does the author seem to act about the same as a teenager as he did as a child?

Essay Topic 3

A day at the County Fair turns into another opportunity for the author to showcase the Shepherds' eccentricities. Describe the fair experience from the viewpoint of each family member -- Mother, Randy, the Old Man, and the narrator. Who seems to enjoy the fair the most, and why? Use examples to support your conclusion.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,103 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample