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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. Near Los Angeles, what does Doc load up on after he eats a hearty chicken dinner?

2. What does Doc think about the boys?

3. What is Doc's real birthday?

4. Through what time of day does Doc work gathering his gear?

5. What takes over on Cannery Row?

Short Essay Questions

1. What raises the ire of the normally even-tempered Doc while on the road?

2. What impact have Mack and the boys had on the captain?

3. What is the significance of the flagpole sitter at Holman's Department Store?

4. Why can Doc not get anyone to accompany him on specimen collecting trip to La Jolla?

5. What is ironic about Henri the Painter?

6. How does Mack extract the date of Doc's birthday?

7. What does Steinbeck believe about truth which is explained by Doc's walking trip during college?

8. Describe Mary Talbot.

9. Why does Mack initially reject the captain's offer of whiskey?

10. How does Steinbeck show that Doc is one with nature?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the significance of the dead girl that Doc finds floating in the water. Why does Doc's head fill with the escalating sounds of music when he sees her? Why does Doc let the stranger claim the reward for reporting the body? Why does Doc, who is usually very responsible, get away from the scene as quickly as possible?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the character of Lee Chong. How does Lee conduct his business and his life? Why is he such an important figure on Cannery Row? What does he represent to the other characters in the story?

Essay Topic 3

Mack and the boys are forced to be very resourceful. Give some examples of behaviors exhibited by Mack and the boys that indicate they know how to get what they need in spite of their obvious lack of typical resources. Would you say Mack and the boys are creative? Or do they simply use people to avoid work? Do you think you could be friends with Mack and the boys? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 925 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample