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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 Jacob doing just before the stampede begins?

2. What does Jacob complain to the nurse about?

3. What does the barker do to reward Jacob?

4. What is jake?

5. Who is August, the man Marlena is speaking to in the prologue?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Where is Jacob living in his old age?

5. How does Jacob get a job working security for the cooch show that night?

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

7. What does Jacob see outside the center's window?

8. What does elderly Jacob spend his day doing?

9. What ruins Jacob's one joy in the center?

10. Why does Jacob become angry with Rosemary, one of his nurses at the assisted-living center?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss setting. What is the setting of this novel? How does the setting of this novel directly affect the actions and behaviors of the characters? What is most significant about the setting in this novel? Why do you think the author chose this setting for her novel? Would the novel's plot work if the setting had been different, such as set in the future or the more immediate past? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the death of Jacob's parents. How does this death affect Jacob? What does Jacob's parents leave their son after their deaths? How do the deaths of his parents leave Jacob's future plans irrevocably changed? Why does Jacob react to these deaths by boarding a circus train?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss August. Who is August? What kind of person is August? What does August do to cause Jacob to fear him? What does Jacob learn about August that helps him understand August's odd behavior? What does August do to Rosie? How does Rosie respond?

(see the answer keys)

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