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 does Detective Newburg tell Armpit?

2. How does El Genius harm Fred?

3. What is X-Ray prepared to do?

4. What does Armpit forget for a moment when he arrives at the hotel?

5. What does X-Ray tell Armpit after Felix leaves?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Kaira discover that Armpit is ticklish and what does Fred interrupt?

2. What happens when Armpit witnesses an interrogation of X-Ray?

3. Describe the interaction between Armpit and Kaira in the hotel restaurant.

4. What happens in the chaotic aftermath of the attack?

5. What does Armpit decide about the trip and how does he feel about his decision?

6. What "game" do Kaira and Armpit play when they leave the hotel restaurant and what does Kaira disclose to Armpit?

7. What happens to make Kaira throw coffee in Armpit's face and leave?

8. In what dilemmas is Armpit immersed, and what does he decide?

9. What does Armpit stop to buy and then where do Kaira and Armpit go?

10. What does the narrator say about what happens in the events surrounding Kaira?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Small Steps help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Small Steps? Why or why not?

3. Choose one specific incident in Small Steps to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 2

Over the course of Small Steps, Armpit grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. Small Steps might be considered a slice of Armpit's larger story of his "coming of age." It might be said that Small Steps is a "bildungsroman" of Theodore Johnson. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Armpit as he changes from a more immature, gullible boy to a wiser, young man. What are the significant events that change Armpit?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Armpit's growth throughout Small Steps, do you think Small Steps could be considered Armpit's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in Small Steps who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Small Steps.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of Small Steps. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Small Steps. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,142 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample