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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 has Uncle Al failed to buy for his new workers?

2. What does Uncle Al want Rosie to do during the show?

3. Which animal is the most popular that day in the menagerie tent?

4. What does Jacob do while in this tent?

5. How does August react when he finds Jacob and Marlena in his tent?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What happens when Jacob goes into Chicago with August and Marlena?

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

4. Why is the train raided in Poughkeepsie?

5. What is stolen several days in a row?

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

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

8. What happens when Rosie is forced to participate in the Grand Spec before she is prepared?

9. What happens when Jacob has too much to drink?

10. What surprise does Marlena arrange for August after Rosie's first successful show?

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 Marlena. Who is Marlena? Why is Marlena with the circus? Why did Marlena marry August? Does Marlena love August? Why or why not? How does Marlena feel about Jacob? How does she show this? Why does Marlena choose Jacob over August? What does Marlena hope to get from Jacob?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 817 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample