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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 causes Charley to be hospitalized?

2. In September, with whom does Janey move into a house?

3. Who is in charge of the production of the play?

4. In his meeting with McGill to address the strike, what does Ward propose?

5. When Mac hears that rebels will be arriving in the city, whose government is expected to flee?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mac do when the Zapata arrives in Mexico City?

2. Why is Charley eager to leave Fargo?

3. What does Eleanor do to conceal her upbringing?

4. What does Ward want to achieve on his own without Annabelle's support?

5. Initially, what decision does Johnny make about Annabelle in pages 151-172?

6. Why does Gertrude threaten Ward with divorce, and what effect can this divorce have upon him?

7. Why does Eleanor befriend Miss Eliza Perkins?

8. What happens when Charley's girlfriend gets pregnant?

9. What does Charley decide to do when the pregnancy is terminated?

10. When Mac arrives in Mexico City, what changes does he experience in his employment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Mac travels to Mexico, he does not go for physical reasons. Instead, he goes to stimulate his mind and to free his spirit. What is the significance of taking a spiritual journey versus just a physical one? How does this affect Mac in particular?

Part 1) What is the difference in the journeys of Mac versus that of Janey?

Part 2) Describe Mac's final experience and how it varies greatly from his first trip. What new friends has he made? What fears has he conquered? What relationships has he formed, and what relationships has he severed? Why?

Part 3) Of the five main characters, who gains the most knowledge and understanding from traveling? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the concept of loneliness as it is exhibited in the 42nd Parallel. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 3

John dos Passos is known for paying homage to various authors and works of literature. Choose at least four references used in the book. Write at least 250 words on each reference. Also add your opinion as to why dos Passos chose that particular author or reference.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 852 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample