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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. Who woke to see the molestation?

2. What did Goolrick's brother claim to do in one day?

3. What did Lackman bake for Butter Day?

4. What did Goolrick's grandfather do to earn a medal?

5. What did the family do with letters to Santa?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain what happens when Goolrick runs into the boys from school.

2. Explain what happened the morning after Goolrick was molested.

3. What seems to be Goolrick's primary premise in "How I Went On"?

4. Explain how cream was used to make butter in the classroom.

5. Describe the creek and explain why it is "violently sexy".

6. Describe what happened when Goolrick's brother refused to eat when they were children.

7. Explain what happened to Goolrick when he was four years old.

8. Explain what Goolrick means by calling his brother "a sly one" (pg. 124).

9. Describe Goolrick's reply to George's threat.

10. What does Goolrick mean by "how did they thrive so long, and then fail" at the end of this chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Goolrick's family's socioeconomic status. What did his father do for a living? His mother? Were they rich, poor, or middle class? How do you know? How did they act, in terms of how they portrayed their class standing to others? Did Goolrick act this way, as well? What does he realize now, as an adult, about his family's actions at the time? How did his family convince others they had more money than they truly did? Is this ethical? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Goolrick's parents at the height of their popularity with them at the end of their lives. How did they change, and why? What does this suggest about the role of alcohol in their decline? Do you think the changes in society also played a factor? Why or why not? How did their secret with Goolrick's molestation play a part in their decline?

Essay Topic 3

At the time of her death, Goolrick spent hours driving back and forth from home to the hospital in order to spend time with his mother. When no one else would go, Goolrick went, making sure to deliver news, as needed. When his mother was actually dying, however, Goolrick left her alone, and he claims he does not know why. Knowing what you know about Goolrick and his mother's relationship, why do you think Goolrick left his mother to die alone in a hospital? Do you think he did it out of spite, fear, anger, or was it simply an unconscious decision? Be sure to base your answer on information from the book.

(see the answer keys)

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