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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. After Norman is married, he asks Paul to do him what favor?

2. What do Neal and Old Rawhide want to do with Norman and Paul?

3. This story is based on ________________.

4. What do the brothers always wonder about each other?

5. What do Norman and Paul see when they return from fishing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who are the two brothers in the story?

2. Why does Norman's mother-in-law enlist Norman's help on Neal's behalf?

3. What favor does Norman ask of his brother, Paul?

4. Where do the two brothers go fishing?

5. What do Norman's wife and mother-in-law finally realize about Neal?

6. Who arrives to surprise Norman and Paul at the cabin?

7. What do Norman and Paul find when they return to the spot where they left the car?

8. What do Norman and Paul receive in the form of sermons from their father?

9. Who goes on the fishing trip the next morning?

10. How does Norman react to Neal's arrival a few days later?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the irony in the situation of the cook losing all his money after he has cheated to win it in the poker game. All through the story the cook has been rude and disdainful to Norman, yet it is Norman who finds the cook beaten and broken in an alley and gives him all the money he has. What does it say about Norman's character that he can rise above the difficulties he has experienced with the cook and act like a good human being? Would the cook have done the same for Norman? Explain your position.

Essay Topic 2

In spite of their differences, Norman and Paul have learned to respect each other. Name some of the qualities and behaviors that differentiate the two brothers. How are the brothers alike? Why does Mrs. Maclean seem to favor Paul over Norman? Is it because Paul is the baby of the family? Or does Mrs. Maclean know that Paul is especially vulnerable?

Essay Topic 3

Norman never does achieve the level of esteem he hopes for from Bill. Does this have anything to do with Norman's choice not to return to Bill's crew the following summer? Or does Norman just want to expand his skill sets by working in a different area? Why would Bill ask Norman to return if he did not like him? Compare and contrast what Bill and Norman were looking for from each other.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 669 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample