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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 does August become annoyed with Marlena over lunch in Chapter 9?

2. What is Jacob doing just before the stampede begins?

3. What job is Jacob given next, after Camel decides his first job with the circus was beneath him?

4. What does the doctor prescribe for Jacob after his outburst at dinner?

5. Why has Jacob come to live at the assisted-living center?

Short Essay Questions

1. With whom does Jacob have dinner the following night?

2. What animal does Jacob notice missing from the circus' group of exotic animals?

3. What purchase has Uncle Al made from the bankrupted circus that causes him a great deal of excitement?

4. Why does Jacob become angry with Rosemary, one of his nurses at the assisted-living center?

5. What does Jacob complain to the nurse about?

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

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

8. Why does Jacob lose his appetite?

9. What have Jacob's parents left to him?

10. What does Marlena ask Jacob about her horse?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Jacob's education. What is Jacob studying in school? Why does Jacob not finish his degree? How close is Jacob to being finished? Why does Jacob choose not to finish? How does Jacob's education help him get a job with the circus?

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

Discuss the theme of greed. Why is greed a theme in this novel? What characters are influenced by greed? How do the actions of these characters affect the main characters? How would this novel have progressed differently if greed were not a theme? Would the novel change drastically without the greed of certain characters? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 757 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample