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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 is the most aimless of the household and periodically plays notes on the xylophone so that Essie can dance?

2. Where does Tony attend college?

3. What does Grandpa ask God to allow?

4. What does Tony ask Alice to do?

5. Who does Alice find?

Short Essay Questions

1. What unexpected event takes place? How does all the activity prior to this event add to the shock and humor of this event?

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

3. What does Penny comment about Alice? Why? Why might Alice be attracted to this type of man?

4. How does this scene open? How does this continue to reflect the Sycamore family's quirkiness?

5. How does the play open? What does the audience member and reader learn about the family from the set?

6. How does Tony disagree with Alice? Why is he able to accept her family?

7. How might Alice feel after she and Tony part for the night?

8. Describe the dinner. How does this begin to heal the wounds of the night before?

9. 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?

10. How does the second act open? What new character does the audience meet? How does she add to the comedic aspect of the play?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tony and Alice are a couple.

Part 1) How serious is their relationship? How do you know this?

Part 2) What trials and tribulations do they encounter throughout the play, as a couple?

Part 3) Is their relationship likely to last? Why or why not?

Part 4) If you could see this couple in ten years, where would they be and why? Use the text to support your response.

Essay Topic 2

The title of the play is significant.

Part 1) To what does "You Can't Take It With You" refer?

Part 2) Whose philosophy is this? What message are the playwrights trying to get across to the audience members?

Part 3) Why would this philosophy be important to the audience when the play opened in 1936? How is it significant today?

Essay Topic 3

Grandpa Vanderhof returns from a commencement ceremony.

Part 1) Where was the commencement ceremony? Why does he go to this ceremony?

Part 2) Why might commencement ceremonies be meaningful to Grandpa?

Part 3) What is something meaningful in your own life? Compare and contrast it to Grandpa's interest in commencement ceremonies.

(see the answer keys)

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