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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. Who does Grandpa not know?

2. What else does Alice declare?

3. Where does Tony attend college?

4. What is happening at the same time Alice and Tony are making declarations to one another?

5. What does Tony remind Alice?

Short Essay Questions

1. What have Paul Sycamore and Mr. DePinna been doing? Why is this odd?

2. What does Alice say to Tony, regarding their relationship? Why does she say this? What assumptions is she making?

3. Why is Ed feeling uncertain about his work? What might this foreshadow?

4. What has this embarrassing incident done to Alice? How would you feel, if you were Alice?

5. Describe Rheba and her actions in this scene. Why do the playwrights say she is African American? Could someone who is not African American play this role?

6. How is Tony beginning to act more like the Sycamore family? Why?

7. What happens when the doorbell rings? How does this add to the comedic feeling of the play?

8. What does Grandpa do right before dinner? Why does he say this? What might this foreshadow?

9. Describe Grandpa Vanderhof. From where is he returning? What does he enjoy about this activity?

10. How does the family respond to this crisis? How does this prolong the hilarity of this scene for the audience?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ton's parents arrive a day early to dinner.

Part 1) Why? What is Alice's reaction?

Part 2) How does the family try to make the best of the situation? Are they successful? Why or why not?

Part 3) Is their arrival disastrous for the other characters? Does their early arrival weaken or strengthen the family? Why?

Essay Topic 2

The play takes place in Grandpa Vanderhof's livingroom.

Part 1) How does the play open?

Part 2) How does the audience or reader learn about each character? Is this an effective introduction to each character? Why or why not?

Part 3) Why might the playwrights have introduced them in this way?

Essay Topic 3

Mr. Henderson is an unexpected guest to the home.

Part 1) Who is he? Why is he there?

Part 2) How does Grandpa react to Mr. Henderson's arrival? What is the outcome of this situation?

Part 3) How can both audiences of 1936 and audiences of today relate to this encounter? Would many agree or disagree with Grandpa? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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