View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What book does Eliot have hidden in his office?

2. Who are the men seated across from Eliot at the fountain?

3. What did Fred's father write and leave to him before dying?

4. How does Kilgore Trout explain Eliot's devotion to volunteer fire departments?

5. What does Selena notice about the music Mrs. Buntline plays through the house?

Short Essay Questions

1. Delbert Peach comes to Eliot's office and tells him he is certain Eliot will never return. Why does Mr. Peach think Eliot will not return, and how does Eliot respond?

2. While he is looking at the books in the news store with Lila, Fred comes across a book that interests him. What is the book and what is it about?

3. Who is Harry Pena, and what are his different jobs? How does he behave toward Fred? What information is revealed about Fred in their meeting?

4. When Eliot comes to and leaves for the Kandy Kitchen to catch his bus, what is different about him?

5. Amid one person after another coming up to him and saying goodbye and good luck, all people he seems not to know, Eliot goes to the magazine rack and chooses something to read on his trip to Indianapolis. What does he choose, and what is it about?

6. Fred and Caroline Rosewater live in Pisquontuit, Rhode Island. Describe the town and the people in it.

7. While he is at the news store counter having coffee and Danish with the carpenters and plumbers of the town, Fred tells a story that ends with someone saying to him "God bless you, Mr. Rosewater." Why does the person say this?

8. In Chapter Nine, we meet Lila Buntline, Stewart and Caroline's daughter. What is Lila doing in the news store? How does she know Fred?

9. When Fred comes home, what happens that makes him think of suicide? What keeps him from killing himself?

10. Harry Pena and his sons are on a fishing boat which is visible from the dining room of The Weir. What do customers see from the vantage point of their windows? What does Harry do about this situation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

After living in Rosewater for five years, Sylvia has a nervous breakdown and burns down the fire station. She is sent to Indianapolis for treatment. Describe the disease for which Sylvia is treated by Dr. Ed Brown. What is the author trying to say about the wealthy in this diagnosis?

Essay Topic 2

In the letter Eliot writes to be given to his heir, he expresses strong feelings about government in America, about the Utopia the Founding Fathers hoped to create, and what has gone wrong. What are his opinions? How does he feel about having such a large amount of money?

Essay Topic 3

All of the characters in this novel have a relationship with money that helps define them, whether this is having money or wanting money or how they choose to use their money. Chose two characters, and compare and discuss the relationship each has with money.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,362 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample