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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 Jamie feel when Patty disappears in her car to give Mrs. Desroches back her bag?

2. Where does Patty go to phone in sick?

3. How does Jamie like to entertain his sister?

4. Why does Van leave the trailer?

5. What does Jamie do to his mother when she gets him safely back to the trailer?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Jamie hide himself and Nin from Van?

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

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

5. What does Jamie fantasize in Chapter 7?

6. How does the novel end?

7. How does Jamie's success at the carnival effect his mood?

8. Why does Van leave?

9. How does Earl help Patty in Chapter 9?

10. How does Mrs. Desrochers respond to Patty's defensiveness?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In what way could be said that Patty herself strikes fear into Jamie? How does Jamie react to his mother conflicting feelings about what happened?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

In what way does the author suggest Van is not the nasty person he seems at the beginning of the novel? How does this complicate the relationship he has had with Patty? What does this sat the way the author think about humans in general?

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