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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. The narrator realizes he has found his weapon when the black-shawled lady pulls what out of a box?

2. After being greeted by a woman wearing a black shawl, what does the narrator ask for?

3. The narrator notes that the only way to get his father going in the morning is with what?

4. What happens to Grover after his confrontation with Delbert in Story One?

5. What name does the narrator give his "weapon"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the conditions inside the car during the drive to Clear Lake, Michigan.

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

3. What is top spinning, and why are the boys of Warren G. Harding Elementary School so obsessed with this pastime?

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

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

6. Where do the Bumpuses make their illegal liquor?

7. Describe the sense of anticipation the Shepherd family members feel as they prepare to experience the County Fair. What is each family member looking forward to the most?

8. What are the Mariah and the Wolf?

9. Describe some of what makes the Shepherd family a traditional one.

10. At the end of the Shepherd family's County Fair excursion, what is the Old Man's assessment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Using examples from the book, explain how the narrator benefits when he applies, or engages in, the following:

a. Self-discipline

b. Family traditions

c. Challenging the status quo

Essay Topic 2

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 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 1,000 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample