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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. Sadie tells Jo that the fights between Cass and Nora are usually ______________________.

2. What decision has Jo made in Chapter 13?

3. Jo tells Daniel she is going to meet whom in Chapter 11?

4. Eli has told the police that Jo squealed on him because ______________________.

5. What does Eli do when he sees Jo in the library?

Short Essay Questions

1. What type of party does Jo want to have, and whom does she make a special point to call and invite?

2. What holiday disaster had Daniel feared, and how did he avoid it?

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

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

5. Why do Jo and Eli meet, and what do each of them say about their respective marriages?

6. Describe the pleasant evening Eli and Jean spend at Jo and Daniel's holiday party.

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

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

9. What annoys Jo about Cass' visit?

10. How does Jo respond when Daniel wants to know if she planned to have an affair with Eli?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a character study of Eli. What are his physical characteristics? What are his motivations? What are his fears? What are his dreams? What else can you say about Eli?

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

The flashback portions of the story take place as America is experiencing the hippie generation, the Vietnam War, Woodstock, and drug usage in the late 1960s. Explain the significance of these political and cultural events on the housemates.

(see the answer keys)

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