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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 Jo search for in the newspaper archives in the library?

2. What is the occasion for Jo's party?

3. What does Daniel know when Jo had told him about Eli's killing Dana?

4. What does Jo NOT consider when thinking about healing her family?

5. What is Sadie's demeanor when she calls Jo a few days later?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jo notice about Cass' physical appearance, and why is she concerned?

2. What are Jo's thoughts about Eli after they had coffee together?

3. Why is Jo almost pleased that Daniel threw the tomato at the wall next to her?

4. How does Jo's reporting Eli's murder impact Sadie's life in a way Jo never considered?

5. Describe the setting in which Eli killed Dana.

6. What assumptions does Jo make about the people in her life after the episode with Eli?

7. How does Jo not pick up on why Daniel is upset with her after she meets Eli?

8. How do Eli's and Jo's perceptions of life in the group home differ?

9. How has Jo's secret meeting with Eli damaged her relationship with Daniel?

10. Why does Daniel not respond the way Jo thinks he should when she tells him about reporting Eli to the Cambridge police?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses more than one theme in the book. Identify at least two themes in the book. Then cite an example to support each theme you name.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the role of the family in WHILE I WAS GONE. What does it mean for each of the main characters? How does the family evolve in its support of each other?

Essay Topic 3

WHEN I WAS GONE is a classic story of tests of a relationship. What does that classification entail? Why does this novel fit into this category? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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