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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. At what hospital is Josh's family in "The Doctor Pats Jordand and Me on the Back and Says"?

2. What does Josh say his mother never lets them have in "Suspension"?

3. In a simile in the poem "The Nosebleed Section," the narrator describes his mother popping up like what in the stands?

4. How many seconds are left to go in the game when the coach calls time-out in "For Dad"?

5. How many rebounds has JB gotten in the game in "The Nosebleed Section"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What character is compared to a storm in the poem "Storm"? How does the author make this comparison?

2. What are some of the questions that appear in the poem "Questions" in "Fourth Quarter"?

3. How is the word "profusely" explored in the poem that has the same name?

4. How would you describe the mood of the poem "After" in "Third Quarter"? How does the author develop this mood?

5. How are the Christmas celebrations described in "Santa Claus Stops By"?

6. What are some of the reasons that Josh lists in "Mom, Since You Asked, I’ll Tell You Why I’m So Angry"?

7. What stylistic elements stand out in the poem "Fast Break"?

8. What news is related in the poem "Article #1 in the Daily News (December 14)"?

9. What is revealed by the phone call in "As We’re About to Leave for the Final Game"? How does the Bell family respond?

10. Why does Josh point out the irony of the doctor's name in "The Next Morning"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the genre of The Crossover. Why do you think the author has chosen to relate this story in the form of a verse novel? How would the novel differ if related in prose? What are the benefits of this style?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the style of the poems in The Crossover. Does the author employ rhyme and meter throughout the poems? What are examples of similes, metaphors, and other literary devices employed in the poems?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the character of Vondie Little in The Crossover. How do Josh and JB know Vondie? How do their relationships evolve in the course of the narrative? Is Vondie a likable character? Why or why not?

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