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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 reason does Tom give for not letting Polly know he was alive?

2. What had Joe found in the cave to eat?

3. What does the boy Becky spent time with do to Tom when he finds out he's been used?

4. How did the boys get to shore from their island?

5. What prevented Injun Joe from taking off on Friday?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Tom think when he's whipped for ruining his schoolbook?

2. What happens at the Fourth of July celebration?

3. Describe what happens in the courtroom during Tom's testimony.

4. How does Tom treat Amy Lawrence when he comes back to school?

5. Describe the Spaniard.

6. What happens during Tom's speech on examination day?

7. What good deed does Tom do for Becky?

8. Describe Huck's reaction to living with the Widow Douglas.

9. What happens to Tom and Huck's treasure?

10. Describe what happens the first time Becky goes to sleep in the cave.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Culture is the values, beliefs, and attitudes of a society, reflected in what they do and make and how they communicate. Describe the culture of Tom and Huck's town. What do the townspeople value and admire? What are the religious and political beliefs and values of the town? How do they enforce good behavior? What are the beliefs about child-rearing? What other important beliefs or attitudes can you identify?

Essay Topic 2

The novel contains many examples of guilt and self-condemnation. For example, Muff Potter condemns himself for a crime he didn't commit, saying it's right that he should die for it, while Tom and Huck are overcome with guilt for not telling what they know.

1) Tom is always misbehaving and doesn't feel guilty at all. What types of circumstances will or won't make Tom feel guilty?

2) Muff Potter and Huck Finn both feel that they deserve condemnation, in part because of the society's condemnation of them. How does societal condemnation relate to self-condemnation?

3) In what ways is guilt a valuable feeling? How does it help or hinder the characters? Use examples from the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, people show off, or posture. Tom shows off when he wants to get Becky's attention, but showing off is not just for children. The Sunday School teacher shows off for important guests, and the schoolmaster shows off for the parents and town.

1) Why do the characters in the novel show off? What do they hope to gain?

2) What different forms does "showing off" take? Why are these actions supposed to impress others?

3) How aware are the characters of others' "showing off"? How effective is it?

(see the answer keys)

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