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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. The narrator and his friends have a contest of eating _____________ laxatives.

2. The tendency of all New Jerseyites to long for home is called ____________________.

3. What did Marcel Proust do to soundproof his environment?

4. When does Ernie re-join his company after getting off the train?

5. At the end of camp the Chipmunks are promoted to _____________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the narrator's favorite snack and how does it add a bright spot to a dull weekend?

2. Name some New Jersey characteristics that make it the butt of comedians' jokes.

3. How did the narrator's army experience separate him from the world?

4. How were the boys initiated into camp life upon their arrival?

5. How did the narrator prepare for camp and by what name will his group be called once they get there?

6. Why was the narrator underwhelmed by his summer camp experience?

7. Why does the narrator question his impatience to get through the tunnel?

8. How did Captain Crabtree manage the situation with the reluctant fat Chipmunk?

9. Describe some of the projects created in leathercraft.

10. Describe the experience of Dan Baxter being punished for smoking cigarettes.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a "character" sketch of the state of New Jersey. What personality shines through for you for this state? Did Shepherd make you want to learn more and perhaps visit one day? What would you most like to see? What is the one fact or interesting feature that you can recall about New Jersey? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Why did Shepherd choose to use the first person narrator perspective for the stories? What does this point of view entail? What do you know about the characters and the plot lines that you would not know from a different point of view? What do you NOT know about the characters and plot lines based on this point of view?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the format of the book. How does the narrator distinguish between current activity and flashbacks to his past? What is the difference is style and tone? Are the differentiations separated visually in any way? How did this improve your reading of this book?

(see the answer keys)

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