View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Howard leaves Loretta and their children to go where?

2. Where does Maureen hide the money she makes?

3. What happens to Jules at school?

4. What happens when Jules visits Nadine?

5. Why is Jules so anxious at the bank when cashing Bernard's checks?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some of Maureen's responsibilities around the house after Loretta marries Pat?

2. What is Maureen's situation at the beginning of the third book?

3. What happens to Jules in Tulsa?

4. How does Jules' relationship with Nadine end?

5. How does Mrs. Wendall react to the barn fire?

6. How does Jules feel after his father's funeral?

7. What happens when Loretta visits her father for the first time after her marriage?

8. How does Jules feel about himself after the shooting?

9. What has changed about Maureen as a result of her catatonia?

10. What is the result of Jules's and Nadine's adventure?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the main themes of the novel is poverty. What role does poverty play in the lives of the characters? What situations might have been avoided if it were not for their poverty-stricken lifestyle? How did poverty affect the relationships between the main characters? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Nadine's character is a very important one, in terms of how she affects Jules. What is the point of Nadine's character? What point is the author trying to convey through Nadine? What does the reader learn about Jules' character from his interactions with Nadine? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Several of the women in the novel turn to prostitution as a means for generating income. Why do you think this is so? Were there any other options for low-income women who wanted to better their situation? If so, what were they? If there were other options, why did they choose prostitution over the other options? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 821 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample