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 do Marcus' parents ask him about Xnet?

2. Who is Barbara Stratford?

3. From what origins does Mrs. Galvez say this new protest originated?

4. Who is Ange?

5. What does Marcus have to do during his suspension?

Short Essay Questions

1. What instructions does Dr Eeevil give Marcus?

2. What do Marcus and Ange explain to Barbara and why can she related to what they say?

3. What does the note say that Jeb slips into Marcus' pocket?

4. Who takes over Mrs. Galvez's social studies class and what does she say about the Bill of Rights?

5. What does Barbara ask of Marcus and Ange and what does she explain to Marcus?

6. What format do Marcus and Ange use to hold a "press" conference?

7. What do Marcus' parents decide to do after hearing what really happened to Marcus after the bombings?

8. How do the party goers respond at first and what does Marcus and Jolu tell them to convince them to join the keysigning?

9. What happens as a result of the press conference?

10. Why does Marcus believe he has to try to end the arrests and what is Ange's response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Little Brother belongs to the political science fiction genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the political science fiction genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a political science fiction and a historical novel mystery?

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of interesting questions raised by "Little Brother". Questions that Doctorow most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Doctorow' agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Doctorow' probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Doctorow and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

Essay Topic 3

Marcus is trying to get help for his friend, Darryl, who has apparently been stabbed in the melee in the BART station. Instead of helping, however, the people who stop hold the teens at gunpoint, shackle them and place hoods over their heads so that they won't know where they are being taken.

In the days that follow, Marcus is tortured in a way so as to force him to make a confession. Again, Marcus shows his savvy and understanding of the American justice system by asking for what he has been arrested. He also asks to see his lawyer. The lady with whom he deals indicates to him that he has no right to ask for either of these things. The conditions under which Marcus is held are similar to those in a torture camp. He is not given food or drink, not allowed to shower, and is not given contact with any people other than his guards. When his hands are shackled behind his back so long that he urinates on himself, Marcus is made to feel dirty and bad because of his actions when he is taken back to the interrogation room. After he finally signs the papers ensuring him his freedom, Marcus indicates that after both his privacy and dignity were taken from him, he probably would have signed a confession to killing Abraham Lincoln.

1. Discuss where this type of abduction by authorities exist or have occurred in the past. (Research may be required). Use examples from your own life and "Little Brother" to support your reasoning.

2. Do you think the government should be allowed to abduct citizens and torture them without a trial or a lawyer? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and "Little Brother" to support your reasoning.

3. Do you think a situation like the one above could ever occur in this country at the present time? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and "Little Brother" to support your reasoning.

4. What do you think citizens need to do in a country to insure their government does not engage in the above type of actions? Use examples from your own life and "Little Brother" to support your reasoning.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,352 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample