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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 is the profession of the father of the girl in #68?

2. How long has the girl in #75 taken care of things for Jack?

3. Who is the young woman Jack meets while on his trip?

4. Instead of doing his homework like she did in high school, what does Wanda Jo do for Jack now?

5. Why were Jack's friends not happy with the arrangements of meeting in Jack's room?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Nora Kramer and what are her personality traits?

2. What is the setting for the novel?

3. What negative behavior characteristics does Jack show through his actions?

4. What happens that gives Wanda Jo a glimmer of hope regarding a life with Jack?

5. Describe Jack's high school years.

6. How does the sheriff's treatment of Jack indicate what most of the townspeople feel about him?

7. Who does Pat marry, and what is their early married life like?

8. What does Ralph Bird do when he spots Jack back in Holt?

9. Compare and contrast Pat and Jack's perspectives on the college experience.

10. What information does the author reveal about Jack Burdette at the beginning of the novel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Project into the future ten years after the end of the novel and write a brief synopsis for the lives of Jack, Jessie, their sons , Wanda Jo and Pat Arbuckle. Be sure to include work, socialization, marital status, hobbies, etc.

Essay Topic 2

The author uses more than one iteration on the motif of disappointment. Identify at least two characters who either embody or experience disappointment then cite an example to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Jack Burdette and Pat Arbuckle. As young men, both are trying to carve out new lives but seem to have different methods and goals. How are Jack and Pat alike? How are they different? On what things do they agree? What is the thing that threatens to separate them? What other similarities and dissimilarities are there between the two characters?

(see the answer keys)

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