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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 Ray assume Jessie is in Chapter 16?

2. In Chapter 14, why does the fat man yell at Jessie?

3. How does Jessie feel when she wakes up in Chapter 19?

4. In Chapter 18, what does Jessie overhear Mr. Neely say will continue?

5. After Jessie leaves the bread truck, how does she feel about the driver?

Short Essay Questions

1. What makes Jessie comfortable with Mr. Neely when she first meets him?

2. How does Jessie feel when she meets Ray?

3. How does Jessie feel when she wakes up in Chapter 22 after fainting?

4. Why does Jessie name the presidents in Chapter 21?

5. In Chapters 17 and 18, what does Jessie overhear Mr. Neely say on the phone?

6. How does Jessie get out of the bread truck?

7. After first leaving Clifton, what things does Jessie question about money?

8. Why does Mr. Neely give Jessie a glass of water when he first brings her to his apartment?

9. Why does Jessie think of her cat after jumping out of a window?

10. What happens when Jessie calls the health department in Chapter 20?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the theme of education in this novel. What role does school play inside and outside of Clifton? What alternative ways to achieve an education are presented? What is the purpose of education in this novel?

Essay Topic 2

Consider the changes between 1840 and 1996. Which changes are largest? What things are the same? What do these similarities and differences reveal about modern times?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze "Running Out of Time" as a thriller. How does this novel fit within the description of the genre? Are there other genres that may represent this novel better? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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