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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. How much longer after this injury did Chick continue to play baseball professionally?

2. Why did Chick believe his father stopped coming around after he quit baseball?

3. What is the final thing Posey tells Chick he must love in order to make a marriage work?

4. What does Chick consider his best day during his college years?

5. Where did Chick find his greatest joy during the bleak years after baseball?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who gave Chick his nickname?

2. What does Chick hear when he answers the phone at Rose's house?

3. What happens when Chick hears the strange voice once again?

4. Why does Posey suggest Len got involved with this second woman while he was in the war, even though he was already engaged to Posey?

5. To whom does Posey take Chick to visit after dinner?

6. What job does Chick learn his mother did in order to help pay his college tuition?

7. Why was Posey not impressed with Chick's baseball scholarship?

8. What do Posey and Chick talk about over dinner?

9. What does the Italian woman say when she catches sight of Posey and Chick in her mirror?

10. What did Marie write in the memory book at her grandmother's funeral?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following and explain how it is a turning point within the plot:

1) Chick's car accident

2) The visit to Miss Thelma

3) The visit to the home of Chick's father

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Posey. What is Posey's real name? What is her profession? How does Chick feel when he learns that his mother cleaned houses to help pay for his college tuition? Why is Chick surprised by this? What does this choice say about Posey and her love for her children? What does this choice say about Posey's life after her divorce? Why did Posey stop working as a nurse? What does that say about Posey's morals? About the morals of others? Why did Posey never remarry?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following in detail, citing examples from the novel:

1) Point of view

2) The setting

3) Language and meaning

4) The structure, including the use of lists and newspaper announcements throughout the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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