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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 is the only thing Jacob is able to take from his parents' home?

2. What does the barker do to reward Jacob?

3. Who finds bath water for Jacob?

4. Who interrupts the class?

5. Why does Jacob help the barker?

Short Essay Questions

1. What treat does Rosemary sneak onto Jacob's breakfast tray?

2. What is Jacob studying in school? What are his plans after he gets his degree?

3. Why does August not have time to secure food for the animals?

4. What purchase has Uncle Al made from the bankrupted circus that causes him a great deal of excitement?

5. What is Jacob's one joy in the center?

6. What is the emergency that causes the band to play Stars and Stripes Forever?

7. Where does Jacob go after walking out on his final exams?

8. What does the doctor prescribe for Jacob?

9. Why is Marlena angry with August the following day?

10. Who comes to Jacob's defense? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Jacob's education. What is Jacob studying in school? Why does Jacob not finish his degree? How close is Jacob to being finished? Why does Jacob choose not to finish? How does Jacob's education help him get a job with the circus?

Essay Topic 2

Who is Kinko? Why does Kinko dislike Jacob in the beginning? Why is Kinko so distrusting of people? How does Kinko's stature affect his attitude toward the world in general? Toward Jacob in particular? What changes Kinko's opinion of Jacob? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss young Jacob. Why does Jacob jump the circus train? Did Jacob know it was a circus train? Was Jacob looking for a job with the circus? What is Jacob looking for at the circus? Does he find it? Explain your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 676 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample