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. What job does Jacob's new roommate have?

2. What does Jacob see outside the window?

3. What does Jacob do to help Kinko?

4. What does August provide for himself, Marlena, and Jacob before dinner?

5. What punishment does August give Jacob?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does elderly Jacob spend his day doing?

3. What does Marlena ask Jacob about her horse?

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

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

6. Who comes to Jacob's defense? Why?

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

8. What does Jacob complain to the nurse about?

9. What job does Jacob take on the first morning when the train stops?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss August. Who is August? What kind of person is August? What does August do to cause Jacob to fear him? What does Jacob learn about August that helps him understand August's odd behavior? What does August do to Rosie? How does Rosie respond?

Essay Topic 2

What causes the stampede at the end of the novel? Is the stampede begun intentionally? How does Uncle Al die? Did this happen because of the stampede? Why is no one ever punished for Uncle Al's death? How are the stampede and the deaths of Uncle Al and August an example of circus life? Are these good examples? Would these deaths have occurred in another job or situation? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss young Jacob. Why does Jacob jump the circus train? Did Jacob know it was a circus train? Was Jacob looking for a job with the circus? What is Jacob looking for at the circus? Does he find it? Explain your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 721 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample