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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 does Uncle Al reveal about August to Jacob?

2. What does August want Jacob to tell him?

3. What does Uncle Al want Rosie to do during the show?

4. How does August react when he finds Jacob and Marlena in his tent?

5. Why does Marlena refuse to leave with Jacob immediately?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. How does August react to Marlena's surprise?

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

7. Why did Marlena marry August?

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

9. What happens when Jacob goes into Chicago with August and Marlena?

10. What does Jacob discover about Rosie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Prohibition. What is Prohibition? Why was it enacted? How does it affect the common man? How does pPohibition play a role in this novel? Who is directly affected by Prohibition? Who is indirectly affected? Why do you think the author chose to set her novel during prohibition? How would the novel be different if the author had set the story in a different era? Whose life would have been different? Why?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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This section contains 822 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample