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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 Patty say they are currently living?

2. How does Patty calm Jamie down?

3. Why does Jamie hate going to school?

4. Why does Van say he has come to the trailer?

5. Why can't Patty start her car?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Earl help Patty in Chapter 9?

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

4. How does the novel end?

5. What does Jamie think of Van when he sees him again in the final chapter?

6. Why does Van leave?

7. How do Jamie and Patty spend the week?

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

9. Summarize Chapter 9.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the author's writing style. How would you describe the author's prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? What meaning does the author's style give to the story?

Essay Topic 2

How much does Jamie understand of the situation that he, Nin and Patty find themselves in? How does Jamie manage to cope with the situation?

Essay Topic 3

How does Patty react to Van's violence? In what way does her reaction create more problems for her and her children? How could she have dealt with the problem better?

(see the answer keys)

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