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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. In what condition is Pat when he comes home at night?

2. How does Maureen feel about her method of earning an income?

3. What kind of a child is Jules?

4. How does Loretta feel about Mrs. Wendall?

5. What are Maureen's responsibilities on a daily basis?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Loretta think about her relationship with her children while she is in the shelter?

2. What is Jules and Nadine's relationship like after their reunion?

3. What happens to Mrs. Wendall after Howard's death?

4. What does Jules do while trying to perform a magic trick for Maureen?

5. How does Jules meet Bernard?

6. Why does Maureen want to marry Jim?

7. What is Jules's living situation in Chapter 6 of the third book?

8. Why does Howard leave the farm in Chapter 6 of the first book?

9. Why does Loretta's family move away from Detroit?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Loretta doesn't understand why she has no connection with her children as adults. What do you think is the reason for the disconnect between them? Is there anything that Loretta could have done differently? Why does Loretta hypothesize that maybe she had the wrong children? Do you think she really believes this? Or is she simply trying to find a reason so she doesn't have to feel guilty? Do you think the disconnect is a result of Loretta's parenting, the family's situation, or a combination of the two? Why? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Jules and Maureen are both very optimistic as children, but are also capable of detaching themselves from frightening or emotionally damaging situations, such as their father's death. Is this an odd combination of character traits? Why or why not? What is the ultimate result of their hopefulness? Do you think that Betty is justified in ridiculing her siblings for their optimistic attitudes? Why or why not? In what ways are they similar to Loretta as a child? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

When Howard dies, Jules struggles to remember anything about him, and knows only that he doesn't want to suffer the same fate with his own children. Why do you think this is so? Does Jules know why he feels this way about his father? Do you think he has a plan for how to avoid this fate with his children? What are some factors that contributed to Jules' lack of a relationship with his father? How might Jules remedy these problems with his own children? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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