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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. How does learning Rosie's language help August?

2. Why does Jacob agree to sit at his old table?

3. What gift does August offer Jacob for his help with Rosie?

4. What does Jacob do that causes Marlena to leave him alone in an alley?

5. Whose safety is Jacob concerned about?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What happens when Jacob has too much to drink?

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

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

5. Who becomes ill, forcing Jacob to examine him?

6. Why did Marlena marry August?

7. Why is the train raided in Poughkeepsie?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Jacob, the elderly man? Why is Jacob living in the assisted-living center? What does Jacob feel the center has taken from him? Why does Jacob resist the help of the nurses? Why does Jacob dislike the new resident, the lawyer who claims to have brought water to elephants as a young man? Why does Jacob not believe this man's claims? How would Jacob know?

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

Why does Jacob not talk about his time with the circus when he is old and living in the assisted-living center? Is Jacob ashamed of his past? What is Jacob attempting to hide? Why does Jacob finally tell his story to a stranger, but a stranger who lives with a circus? What is it about the man's job that makes Jacob trust him? What does this say about the culture of the traveling circus?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 815 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample