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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 Ben think of Sammy's plan to blackmail Junior Palmer?

2. What happens to Sammy?

3. Who asks Ben to help Toomer?

4. Who defends Ben?

5. With whom does Lillian have an argument before dinner the night of the big basketball game?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the focus of Sister Loretta's discussion on sex? How does Ben react to this discussion?

2. How does being Jewish affect Sammy?

3. Why does Bull criticize Ben's play during his first basketball game? How does Ben feel about this?

4. What is Ben's biggest fear as he tries out for basketball?

5. Why does Ben want to avoid the local hang-out after being thrown off the basketball team/.

6. What does Sammy see at lover's point? What does he hope to do with the information?

7. Who is Junior Palmer?

8. How is Bull's behavior on Christmas morning in contrast with the story Mary Anne tells on Christmas Eve?

9. Why is Arrabelle frightened for Toomer in the aftermath of the rape?

10. Why does Bull restrict what Ben can eat on game day?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Bull begin going to Hobie's Grill? What is significant about Bull's behavior in public compared to his behavior at home? Why is Bull different in public? What does this say about the behaviors of an abuser? How does this behavior make seeking help more difficult for the abuser's family? Is this behavior stereotypical? What other stereotypes exist in this book? List as many as you can.

Essay Topic 2

Why does Lillian never leave Bull? Does Lillian love Bull? Does Lillian condone Bull's behavior toward her and the children? Is Lillian an abused wife? List some examples of this abuse. Is Bull abusive toward the children? Why does Lillian not do more to protect her children? What does this say about Lillian's personality?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the military. What is significant about Bull's military career as it affects his family? How does Bull feel about the Marines? Does his family feel the same? Compare and contrast the way Bull and his family view the military. How does Ben feel about the Marines? Does Ben want to be a Marine? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,267 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample