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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 Mr. Simmons do from the hole in the cellar ceiling?

2. To what activity does everyone compare piloting a plane?

3. What does Russell learn to love about Uncle Harold?

4. With what military branch did Uncle Harold serve?

5. While delivering papers, where does the well-dressed man try to take him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is odd about the family's new Baltimore home?

2. Who is Mary Leslie?

3. What does Lucy purchase for Russell as a mark of adolescence?

4. What news prompts Lucy to send Russell out right away to sell his papers in 1939?

5. What class at school is torture for Russell, and why?

6. How does Russell remember Uncle Harold?

7. After Doris meets Audrey, what does Uncle Harold do for her?

8. What school accepts Russell?

9. Why doesn't Lucy approve of Mimi?

10. What incident happens early one morning as Russell delivers his papers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Reexamine Chapter 3. Lucy comes of age in a turbulent time. Between what two personal and political ideas is she torn? How does this split manifest itself in her life, according to Russell's account? Provide at least three examples from the text. How has her upbringing contributed to these views?

Essay Topic 2

Create a character profile of Uncle Harold. Include:

1) What is his background?

2) How does he know Russell?

3) What do Harold and Russell have in common?

4) Discuss Harold's relationship with Doris.

Essay Topic 3

One of the central themes of the work is Lucy's need for Russell to "make something of himself." How, throughout the novel, does she make him attempt to do so? What specific jobs does he have? What kinds of things does she teach him? Give examples of Lucy's quest from the text, explaining how each may have helped spur Russell on to the next step.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 567 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample