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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. Why do the men oversleep right as they begin their journey?

2. Who remembers that he has forgotten to pack boots?

3. According to J., what kinds of people hire animals to pull their boats?

4. According to J., what often happens to the boats that are being pulled by animals?

5. What kinds of songs does Harris sometimes sing at parties?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kind of allegory does J. talk about once the group fine tunes their philosophy about packing?

2. What does J. say he actually intended when he volunteered to pack?

3. What about the houses in Kingston makes them unique?

4. Why do the men decide not to pack the oil stove?

5. Why does J. make fun of Harris's desire to look at old tombstone inscriptions?

6. After George sees a couple walking along the shore with a tow line that is not attached to anything, what does he decide to do?

7. Where do J. and Harris ultimately end up getting George?

8. What does J. admit he thinks when he reads advertisements for new patent medicines?

9. What compromise do the men come to about sleeping at inns or camping?

10. What happens with George and the butter as the group is packing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one character from the text and analyze whether or not this character is likable by the average reader. What three main characteristics does this character have that may connect with an average reader of "Three Men in a Boat"?

Essay Topic 2

Which character (Harris, George, or J.) is portrayed in the most positive light? What from the text most informs this opinion? Use specific examples to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

In a well-written essay, discuss why the portrayal of the journey up the river in "Three Men in a Boat" is completely unrealistic and unbelievable for the average reader. Make sure to use direct evidence from the text to support your position.

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This section contains 688 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample