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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 is Caleb Bradham?

2. How old was Missy Ryan when she was killed?

3. What does the unnamed narrator say this story is about in the prologue?

4. In what year was Jonah born?

5. What one concern does Charlie have about Miles' relationship with Sarah?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Sarah tell Miles in Chapter 3 that she does not usually tutor students herself but will make an exception in this case?

2. What does Miles tell Sarah about his family during their first date? How does Sarah react to the information?

3. Who does the unnamed narrator say this story is about? Why does he preface this by telling the reader all about Missy Ryan?

4. Why does the unnamed narrator tell the reader he went to Missy's funeral?

5. How do Sarah's parents react to meeting Miles and Jonah for the first time? What is Brian's reaction to Miles and Jonah?

6. What are the two boys hunting in an abandoned house when Miles catches them in chapter 7? What does he do?

7. In Chapter 13, how does Miles react when Sarah tells him she cannot have children?

8. In Chapter 1, what did Miles find in Jonah's backpack? What does Jonah have to say about it?

9. How does Sarah react to the news that her ex-husband is planning to remarry? Why does she react this way?

10. In Chapter 13, what story does Miss Harkins tell Sarah and Miles?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following in an essay:

1) Point of view.

2) Setting.

3) Language.

Essay Topic 2

Who is Missy Ryan? How did she die? What does the unnamed narrator say about Missy? Why does the unnamed narrator make it clear that this book is not about Missy? What was Miles and Missy's relationship like? How might their lives had played out if Missy had not been killed? What impact did Missy's death have on her son? What impact did it have on her husband? How did Missy's death impact the small town of New Bern? How do these changes play a role in this novel?

Essay Topic 3

How do Miles and Sarah meet the first time? What are their impressions of one another? How can the reader tell how Miles feels about Sarah? How can the reader see how Sarah feels about Miles? Why does it take so long for Miles to ask Sarah out? What experience does Miles have in this area? How does Sarah react when Miles finally attempts to ask her out? What does this say about Sarah? Why does Miles feel the need to explain what dating means to Jonah? What impact might a new romantic relationship for Miles mean for Jonah? Does Jonah's age impact this any? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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