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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. Why does Dave's mother burn his arm on the gas stove?

2. What does Dave's mother force him to drink that burns the flesh from his mouth?

3. Where does Dave go when he finishes his chores after school?

4. Why is Dave afraid to give his mother's phone number to the authorities?

5. What is Dave's mother's favorite weapon against him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Dave's plan to prevent his mother from making him lie across the gas stove in Chapter 3, Bad Boy.

2. Describe the types of inquiries Miss Moss starts to ask Dave in Chapter 4, The Fight for Food.

3. What does Dave's mother tell the doctor when she dislocates his shoulder?

4. Describe Dave's family life before the abuse starts.

5. Explain why the Russian River is Dave's favorite vacation spot in Chapter 2, Good Times.

6. Describe what Dave's mother does one day when she is sick in Chapter 2, Good Times.

7. Many times Dave's mother sends him to search the house for something she has lost. What does she do to him if he forgets what he is looking for?

8. Summarize the tradition Dave's family follows to prepare for Halloween in Chapter 2, Good Times.

9. Summarize Dave's father's reaction to Dave's punishments, as described in Chapter 4, The Fight for Food.

10. Explain what type of punishment Dave's mother invents for him when she doesn't think the corner treatment is effective anymore.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze Dave as an adult.

- What does he vow to do with his life now that he is free?

- What has he done with his adult life to escape his past and move on?

- Explain how he prevents himself from falling into the black hole of self-pity.

Essay Topic 2

Evaluate the relationship between Dave and his mother.

- How does Dave's father affect Dave's relationship with his mother?

- How does Dave feel about his mother at the end of the book?

- Give examples from the story of how they interact with one another.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the different methods Dave uses to obtain food. Cite examples from the book.

- What are Dave's punishments when his mother finds out he has been sneaking food?

- Describe some of the food items Dave eats in order to survive.

(see the answer keys)

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