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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. How does Katie leave in Chapter 12?

2. What reason does Henry give to Katie for his lack of concern in losing his insurance job?

3. What disappoints Henry about Bruce's funeral?

4. Besides the coaches and their wives, who is at the meeting that Henry walks into during Chapter 14?

5. How long after the attack is Bruce's birthday?

Short Essay Questions

1. What surprises does Bruce receive to celebrate his birthday?

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

3. What happens after a rained out game when Bruce goes to the hospital?

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

5. What is the difference in the way several players are treating Bruce since knowing about his illness?

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

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

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

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

10. When does Bruce leave the team to go back home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the use of foreshadowing in literature, by detailing three examples from Bang the Drum Slowly.

Essay Topic 2

The concept of time is a theme of the book that has the ability to connect with readers on multiple levels.

1) Describe three of the references to time in the book along with their context.

2) Explain how time is unintentionally taken for granted by some people.

3) Analyze the concept of time for Bruce and the characters around him.

Essay Topic 3

While Henry is away from home, he and Holly use creativity to communicate with each other.

1) Compare the technology in the 1950s to current times and discuss which aspects of it are mentioned in the story.

2) Describe three examples of how creativity is used in the book to compensate for technology that had not yet been developed.

3) Analyze the role of technology in the settings for a fictional work.

(see the answer keys)

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