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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 Jamie do to his mother when she gets him safely back to the trailer?

2. How does Jamie get Van to come into the apartment?

3. What did a waiter once show Jamie how to do?

4. How does Patty react when she can't start the car?

5. What does Patty stop asking Jamie after Wednesday?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Jamie and Patty spend Saturday?

2. How does Patty react when she sees Van's truck?

3. What does Jamie remember about the waiter?

4. How does Jamie react when his mother disappears down the road?

5. How does the novel end?

6. Why does Jamie step into the hallway in this chapter?

7. How does Patty react to Jamie breaking the car handle?

8. Why doesn't Patty want to talk on the way back home with Jamie?

9. How does Earl teach Jamie how to ice skate?

10. Why is Mrs. Desrochers so concerned about Jamie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are Jamie's feelings for Van? Why does he feel sympathy for Van at the end of the book? What does his sympathy suggest about Van and his relationship with Patty?

Essay Topic 2

Look at the structure of the book.

How does the author use character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

Discuss elements of the narrative structure; Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the book's themes?

Essay Topic 3

Pick a character from the book and discuss his or her goals and motives. Do they achieve their motive? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

(see the answer keys)

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