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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. Who breaks up the fight?

2. Where does Jacob wake the next morning?

3. Who is having a party in Chapter 10?

4. Who does Jacob want to see?

5. What does Jacob use to pay for the doctor?

Short Essay Questions

1. What surprise does Marlena arrange for August after Rosie's first successful show?

2. What happens when Rosie is forced to participate in the Grand Spec before she is prepared?

3. What does Uncle Al want young Jacob to do in the aftermath of Marlena's choice to leave August?

4. What warning does Jacob receive that something might happen during the show that night?

5. What happens after Jacob and Marlena escape the club?

6. Why did Marlena marry August?

7. What does Uncle Al use to increase ticket sales?

8. Why are Camel and Walter thrown from the train?

9. How does August react to Marlena's injuries?

10. What does elderly Jacob learn about Rosemary that upsets him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Jacob decide to join the circus as a young man? Why does Jacob again choose to join the circus as an old man? What does Jacob, both young and old, hope to achieve by joining the circus? What does the circus mean to Jacob? Is joining the circus as an old man only about nostalgia? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss independence as a theme of the novel. What is independence? How does Jacob feel his independence has been taken from him? Is Jacob right in thinking this? Should a man Jacob's age have more independence or less? Why? Should Jacob be allowed to care for himself and make his own choices? If not, who should have this responsibility? 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.

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This section contains 804 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample