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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 does Uncle Al announce to the circus crew and performers?

2. What does Jacob lament about his current circumstances?

3. What animal is Jacob to examine the following morning?

4. Who is Jacob, the character introduced in the prologue?

5. Why does Jacob take a train home?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Jacob's roommate? What is the source of tension between these two?

2. Why does Jacob not wish to sit at his regular table at mealtime?

3. What treat does Rosemary sneak onto Jacob's breakfast tray?

4. What does Jacob agree to do for Marlena?

5. What news does Jacob receive in the days before his final exams?

6. Why does August not have time to secure food for the animals?

7. Who does Jacob meet the next morning on the circus train?

8. What attacks Jacob later that night?

9. What is Jacob's one joy in the center?

10. What is the significance of Stars and Stripes Forever in the circus?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Rosie? Why is Rosie important to the plot? Why does it take so long for people to figure out that Rosie speaks Polish? Why does Rosie speak Polish? How does learning this change the way Rosie is treated? How does August treat Rosie? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the death of Jacob's parents. How does this death affect Jacob? What does Jacob's parents leave their son after their deaths? How do the deaths of his parents leave Jacob's future plans irrevocably changed? Why does Jacob react to these deaths by boarding a circus train?

Essay Topic 3

What is jake? Why does Camel drink jake rather than good alcohol? How does the setting of the novel affect Camel's decision to drink jake? What is the ultimate result of Camel's decision to drink jake? Is this ailment Camel's fault as the doctor appears to believe? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 771 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample