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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 is Conrad's excuse for not going with Lazenby?

2. Which of the following is Conrad's third goal?

3. Why was Conrad in the hospital?

4. What age would Jordan have achieved, according to Cal?

5. What day of the week is it in chapter 8?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Conrad's feelings about getting a car for Christmas?

2. Why doesn't Conrad first reveal that he had a brother to Dr. Berger?

3. Why doesn't Conrad tell anybody that he has quit the swim team?

4. What causes Conrad to worry about his ability to survive in chapter 7?

5. Describe Beth's attitude toward Cal and Conrad in chapter 6.

6. Describe Conrad's run-in with Joe Lazenby after Conrad has quit the swim team.

7. Looking at Beth's perfectionist personality, why does Conrad upset her so much?

8. Why does Cal want to see Dr. Berger in chapter 17?

9. What causes Conrad to have his first pleasant memory about Jordan?

10. What makes Cal think that Conrad is resuming a regular routine in chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the development of the three main characters: Conrad, Beth, and Cal. Compare and contrast each character from the novel's introduction to the epilogue. What changes? What do they learn?

Essay Topic 2

Which items in the novel are symbols? Consider Jordan's death, the mental hospital, Conrad's bumper stickers, and the swim team in your analysis.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, the focal point changes back and forth from Conrad to Cal. Why does Judith Guest switch back and forth between the two characters? Is this an effective technique used to tell the story?

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