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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 is the person living next to Jerry always doing?

2. What does Jerry want to know about writers?

3. What does Peter do as Jerry is talking about his home and its contents?

4. What does Jerry begin to ask Peter?

5. Who was his mom's most constant companion?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Peter gets upset with Jerry about his storytelling, what does Jerry say back to him?

2. How many times does Jerry repeat the process as described in #41?

3. What does Jerry call this tragedy mentioned in #25 and #26?

4. Why did Jerry's mother do what she did in #20, according to Jerry?

5. When Peter tells Jerry he must be getting home, what does Jerry do for the first time during the play?

6. Where does the play The Zoo Story take place?

7. What does Jerry admit to as Peter is pushed all the way over to one side of the bench?

8. How does Peter end up on one side of the bench?

9. Where does Peter work?

10. What is Jerry's reaction to hearing Peter's question about the zoo?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The background of Jerry is a sad one, filled with death and sadness. However, with Jerry's state of mind as it's seen in the play, do you think he's making up these stories? Why or why not? If he was making up the stories, what purpose does this serve for him? Can the reader and Peter trust anything he says?

Essay Topic 2

Jerry breaks into a monologue called "The Story of Jerry and the Dog."

Part 1) Summarize this story.

Part 2) What lines are blurred in the telling of this story?

Part 3) Why does Jerry tell this story?

Essay Topic 3

At one point, Jerry reminds Peter that he doesn't have to listen to him, that he is free to go whenever he chooses. Why do you think Peter stays to listen anyway? What are three possible reasons for Peter's willingness to stay and listen? What do you think Peter has to gain from listening to Jerry? What do you think Peter wants to learn from Jerry?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 566 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample