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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 does Willie want of Judge Irwin?

2. What does the answer to #45 reveal to Willie?

3. How can Willie be confident in his position?

4. To what college does Gilbert send Cass?

5. What kinds of stories are surfacing at the newspaper office, The Chronicle?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain Anne's pattern of not committing to any permanent relationship in her life.

2. Explain the literary technique of flashback that the author uses in Chapter 1.

3. What had happened to Anne after she breaks up with Jack and graduates college?

4. What does Anne give Jack as her reasons for having the affair with Willie?

5. What is Willie's reaction when Judge Irwin refuses to support a man Willie has chosen for a senate nomination?

6. What does the new hospital symbolize for Willie?

7. Briefly explain the Mastern family story.

8. What is the nature of Jack's second historical project which he launches in Chapter 5?

9. What role did Judge Irwin play in Jack's childhood?

10. What negative trait of Willie's is verified by Willie's behavior in the White impeachment scandal?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the childhoods of Willie Stark and Jack Burden. How did Willie's life of hard work growing up on a farm make him the person he became? Would Willie have been different had he not entered politics? How did growing up relatively privileged affect Jack?

Essay Topic 2

Some psychologists might say that Tom Stark's indiscriminate behavior is a child calling for help. Do you agree or disagree with this premise? What do you think Tom truly wants from his parents? Do you think Willie is so permissive with Tom because Willy had to work so hard on the farm when he was a boy? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

What is the symbolism of Willie Stark's name? Does his name fit his bold physicality? How about his brash personality?

(see the answer keys)

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