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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. In what tense is the poem "This Week, I" related?

2. Who is described as JB's girlfriend's favorite basketball player in "Things I Learn at Dinner"?

3. What does Josh describe doing during practice in "This Week, I"?

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

2. How would you describe Josh's attitude at the hospital in "The Doctor Pats Jordan and Me on the Back And Says"?

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

4. What does Josh's mother say happens to "boys with no self-control" (138) in "Suspension"? What does she mean by this statement?

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

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

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

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

9. What is the focus and meaning of "Basketball Rule #7"?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the meaning of the title of The Crossover? How does Josh define "crossover" in the narrative? How does this term apply both to basketball and to life?

Essay Topic 2

Several poems throughout The Crossover are titled "Basketball Rule #." What is the significance of these particular poems? How do these poems stand out stylistically from the others in the verse novel?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the character of Josh Bell in The Crossover. How old is Josh? What are his likes and dislikes? What relationships does Josh form and/or share with the other characters in the story?

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