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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. What kind of pickup truck does Fulghum remember riding home in on a summer's eve?

2. In Chapter 21, what does Fulghum's neighbor give him for a Christmas present?

3. What part in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony does Fulghum want to play?

4. What kind of vest does the Indian wear who enters the tavern in Chapter 35?

5. When Fulghum buys a cuckoo clock he missed reading that it was made where?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kind of fantasy does Fulghum speak about in Chapter 20, and what does it involve?

2. What happened in Chapter 24 when Fulghum tries to organize a game of giants, wizards, and dwarfs?

3. Describe how Fulghum listens to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

4. What does the author do in Chapter 28 when his cuckoo clock is not working properly, and what happens to the clock?

5. In Chapter 28, why does Robert Fulghum buy a cuckoo clock?

6. In Chapter 33, what does Fulghum say is his first clue that Elias Schwartz is the new Haiho Lama?

7. In Chapter 27, what does the man with scrooge-itis say about receiving gifts?

8. Describe Larry Walters' contraption that Fulghum mentions in Chapter 38 and what he has with him as he floats over Los Angeles.

9. In Chapter 31, what does Fulghum state he'll do on some December night when he is very rich?

10. In Chapter 19, when Mr. Washington comes over to Fulghum's home and starts spraying the dandelions, what kind of discussion does this spark?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mr. Washington is mentioned a couple times in the book as Fulghum's neighbor. Fulghum and Mr. Washington seem to share a strong bond even though they have a lot of differences. What are some of Robert Fulghum's and Mr. Washington's differences? What kinds of things bond the two neighbors together? Why do you think these two neighbors were such good friends? Do you think Mr. Washington saw the simple things in life as Robert Fulghum does? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Why do you think Fulghum ends his book the way he does? Does that help the reader reach a conclusion, or does it leave the reader hanging? Was this Fulghum's intention? Why or why not? Do you think Fulghum could have ended his book any other way? If so, how? If not, why do you think this was the most effective ending?

Essay Topic 3

Of all the stories that Fulghum tells in his book, what are your three favorite stories and why? Explain the reason for picking each one of these stories and why you are drawn to it. How do you think these three favorite stories of yours changed Fulghum's life? Do you think Fulghum changed at all during the events of these stories, or did he ponder and change afterward? If so, how and why?

(see the answer keys)

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