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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 Jacob do while in this tent?

2. Who takes Jacob to their tent?

3. What injury had Jacob suffered?

4. Who is having a party in Chapter 10?

5. What has Uncle Al failed to buy for his new workers?

Short Essay Questions

1. What warning does Jacob receive that something might happen during the show that night?

2. How does Jacob convince Uncle Al to keep August from Marlena?

3. What is rumored to be wrong with the elephant?

4. Who becomes ill, forcing Jacob to examine him?

5. What does Uncle Al want young Jacob to do in the aftermath of Marlena's choice to leave August?

6. What is stolen several days in a row?

7. What does Jacob discover about Rosie?

8. How does August react to Marlena's injuries?

9. What does Jacob use to pay the doctor?

10. What happens after Jacob and Marlena escape the club?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Jacob, the elderly man? Why is Jacob living in the assisted-living center? What does Jacob feel the center has taken from him? Why does Jacob resist the help of the nurses? Why does Jacob dislike the new resident, the lawyer who claims to have brought water to elephants as a young man? Why does Jacob not believe this man's claims? How would Jacob know?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss independence as a theme of the novel. What is independence? How does Jacob feel his independence has been taken from him? Is Jacob right in thinking this? Should a man Jacob's age have more independence or less? Why? Should Jacob be allowed to care for himself and make his own choices? If not, who should have this responsibility? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Uncle Al. Why does Uncle Al want an elephant? How does an elephant elevate the status of the circus? Why does Uncle Al refuse to pay his workers? Why do the workers not leave? Why does Uncle Al want Marlena and August to stay together? Why does Uncle Al force Jacob to promise to bring Marlena and August back together? What does Uncle Al threaten to do if Jacob does not help bring Marlena and August back together?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 803 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample