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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 promise does Rusty-James make to Patty?

2. Why does Steve not show up for math class?

3. Who helps get Motorcycle Boy and Rusty-James back to the apartment?

4. Whom does Steve want Rusty-James to meet?

5. What is Rusty-James doing when Chapter 2 opens?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is it important for Rusty-James to be with crowds of people?

2. Why does Rusty-James not understand the conversation his father and Motorcycle Boy have about Cassandra?

3. Why does Rusty-James leave at midnight to go out with Smokey and his cousin?

4. What happens to Rusty-James when he is frisked by the police?

5. Why does it take Rusty-James longer than he thought to forget about Motorcycle Boy's death?

6. Why does Rusty-James believe all the people he cares about "talk about weird things?"

7. What dose Steve mean when he says that he cannot keep on thinking for Rusty-James?

8. In Chapter 9, how has Rusty-James' vision of Motorcycle Boy changed since the prior night?

9. In Chapter 10, why does Rusty-James think that Patty still loves him?

10. What does Steve's confession that he is going to college to be a teacher reveal about his character?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Is Rusty-James' hero worship of his brother, Motorcycle Boy, valid? Does Motorcycle Boy warrant such devout worship from Rusty-James? Why or why not? Find descriptions from the text to support your answer and to provide evidence for your opinion.

Essay Topic 2

How does the perspective of distance between the past and the present affect the main protagonist, Rusty-James? Analyze how Rusty-James' character has/has not changed during the five years since the night of the knife fight.

Essay Topic 3

The role of women in "Rumble Fish" is one of disappointment and negativity. Select one of the female characters (e.g., Cassandra, Patty, Motorcycle Boy's and Rusty-James' mom,) and define how their representation is a reflection of Rusty-James' attitude. Find descriptions from the text to support your answer and to provide evidence for your opinion.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 596 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample