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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. About what does Theresa cry in Howard's arms?

2. Where does Howard begin to have his lunches?

3. Howard recalls that his father threatened to _______________ if he got a woman pregnant.

4. Who helps Howard with the girls and provides dinner in the evenings?

5. Who is Alice's cell mate?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the story about a dog and a tangled leash that recurs throughout the novel?

2. What is the purpose of the interviews conducted with Alice's daughters and the Child Welfare Office?

3. What is happening in the Goodwin's lives that starts to let them feel normal again?

4. What information is Howard able to give Rafferty about Alice's past as well as his own?

5. How does Howard describe his state of confusion in Chapter 11?

6. How does Theresa add comfort to the lives of Howard and the girls at the same time that the farm is dying?

7. What is Howard's interpretation of Alice's fleeing from the girls when they visit the jail for the first time?

8. How do the girls adapt to "hobo life" as Howard calls their apartment adventure?

9. Why does Alice compare Howard to her father?

10. What are the details of Howard's sale of the farm and how much does he accept for its purchase?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses more than one theme in the novel. Identify at least two themes in the story and then cite an example to support each theme.

Essay Topic 2

Project into the future ten years and write a brief synopsis for the lives of Howard and Alice and Theresa and Dan. Be sure to include emotional states as well as physical characteristics, geographic locations, work, socialization, and other life-defining features.

Essay Topic 3

Hamilton uses more than one instance of irony in the story. Cite at least two other examples you can identify in the story and note why they are examples of irony. What is the major irony in the story? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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