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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 long does it take for Joe Louis to defeat Max Schmeling?

2. One morning during his paper route, what terrifying story does Russell read?

3. At what time of year were the orphanages shuttled from party to party, expected to be grateful?

4. With what military branch did Uncle Harold serve?

5. Where does Russell invite Mimi, only to give her hours of walking tour history lessons?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Who is Mary Leslie?

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

4. After failing one flight examination, how does Russell pass the next one with "Total Loss" Smith?

5. When Lucy announces she and Herb will marry, how does Russell feel?

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

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

8. When Germany surrenders, where is Russell sent to await orders?

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

10. In 1939, who does Lucy begin dating?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Part of growing up is testing boundaries. How does Russell begin to test his boundaries with Lucy? How old is he? How old is she? Even as a child, how much does Russell understand about being punished by Lucy? Why does she decide to punish him in such a way? Who is more upset by Russell's punishments--Russell or Lucy? Why does Russell refuse to cry? Use these leading questions to create a profile of young Russell, battling against Lucy's determination that he will make something of himself.

Essay Topic 2

Examine Lucy's letters to and from Oluf. Though Russell did not discover these letters until later in life, they represent an important part of Lucy's history. Go through each letter provided in the text and make a chronicle of the relationship between Lucy and Oluf--what would such a relationship have meant to her? Why must the two break off the romance? Does young Russell notice anything amiss in their day to day life? Be sure to cite quotations from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Reexamine Chapter 9. How could the Dickens quote "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" be applicable to the family's life? Be sure to think about:

1) Money

2) Home

3) Happiness

4) Work

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 639 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample