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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. Who cheers Alfred on as he runs in the morning in Chapter 9?

2. When was the book "SportsWorld" published?

3. Who does Alfred's aunt decide to talk to about Alfred's boxing in Chapter 9?

4. Alfred hears music from what instrument before the fight in Chapter 7?

5. When Alfred was young, he and his friend imagined being wrestlers. Who was Alfred going to be?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Alfred do when the boys go to rob the store in Chapter 1? Where and why does he go to look for James?

2. How does the author describe Alfred's first few weeks of training in Chapter 10? What does Aunt Pearl learn?

3. Who intercepts Alfred on his way home following the robbery in Chapter 1? What news does Alfred learn?

4. Why does Alfred not back down against the thugs in Chapter 8? How does he feel about this interaction?

5. What is juxtaposed against Alfred's home life in Chapter 4? What contrast is illustrated?

6. How is Alfred's morning run described in the beginning of Chapter 9? What does he reveal to his aunt?

7. What does Alfred recall about his childhood and James in Chapter 7?

8. When does Alfred wake and leave the apartment in Chapter 2? Who does he encounter on his way out?

9. How is the fight described in Chapter 7?

10. Discuss the conflicts in Chapter 6. What does Alfred learn from them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the strategies employed in Chapter 16 in the ring. How does Alfred feel about his victory? How does Alfred demonstrate discipline in the fight? What does Mr. Donatelli think of the outcome of the fight?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and analyze the character of Mr. Epstein in "The Contender". How does Alfred feel about his boss? How long have Alfred and Mr. Epstein known one another? What is Mr. Epstein's history in the boxing world?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the setting and protagonist of the novel. Where in Harlem does Alfred live? How is the setting described? How old is Alfred? What does the exposition reveal about Alfred's past and his family?

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