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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 word in the poem "Okay, Dad" is printed smaller than all of the other words?

2. For how many days does Josh say his father has been in the hospital in "Tanka for Language Arts Class"?

3. What does JB's girlfriend ask for seconds of at the dinner table in "The Girl Who Stole My Brother"?

4. How many people does Josh describe hugging in "Santa Claus Stops By"?

5. At what time is the last message from Vondie posted in "Text Messages from Vondie"?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is related of Vondie's girlfriend in "Even Vondie"?

3. What actions are described regarding Chuck in "On Christmas Eve"?

4. What advice does Josh's father give him regarding JB in "The Nosebleed Section"?

5. What thoughts and emotions does Josh express in "Dear Jordan"?

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

7. How does the advice in "Basketball Rule #9" apply to life?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Chuck Bell in the novel. How does Chuck feel about his sons? What career did Chuck have? Why did he leave this career? What leads up to Chuck's death?

Essay Topic 2

What are some examples of literary or pop cultural allusions in The Crossover? What purpose does each example serve? How to the literary allusions in the novel connect to the characters or themes in The Crossover?

Essay Topic 3

How does Josh's use of language reflect upon his character? How does Josh's use of language stand apart from the other characters in The Crossover? How is dialogue conveyed in this verse novel?

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