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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 do the detectives do when they are called to the room because of the shots fired by Goose?

2. When does Bruce leave to go home to Georgia?

3. When does Henry get home after hearing that Holly is in labor?

4. Why does the doctor have to be picked up when Bruce has an attack in Chapter 11?

5. What does Dutch do when he sees Piney wearing a gun belt?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Bruce's reaction to the passing of his mother?

2. How does Henry describe Bruce's last hit?

3. Which reasons does Henry have for rejecting Katie's offer again, and what causes the detectives to visit Henry's room later at a celebration?

4. How is the team doing with the new coaching and awareness of Bruce's condition?

5. How does Goose find out about Bruce's illness?

6. How does Dutch finally discover the truth about Bruce's condition in Chapter 14?

7. How is the title of the book explained in Chapter 15?

8. Why are the players complaining about time, and how does Bruce respond to their complaints?

9. What influence does Red's coaching have on the team?

10. What happens when Katie takes Henry, Holly, and Bruce to dinner in Chapter 10?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the characters of Henry and Katie, their intentions, the influence they both have on Bruce, and their opposition to each other in the book.

Essay Topic 2

Bruce's illness demonstrates how a crisis can often bring out the best in even the most unlikely characters.

1) Describe the reaction of the other players on the team to Bruce's illness.

2) Explain which characters change the most and why the change could be considered surprising.

3) Analyze how a tragic situation can bring out the best in people in life.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze three examples of symbolism in Bang the Drum Slowly. Include a description of each symbol, how it appears in the book, and what it represents for the characters and/or the plot.

(see the answer keys)

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