View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Jim say his eyes feel like when sniffing cleaning fluid?

2. Who does Jim see by surprise on the "most crowded corner in the Bronx"?

3. Who finds Jim's nickel bag of marijuana?

4. Who at school does Jim decide to steal from?

5. Who does Jim talk to about what he learns at the Communist Party meeting?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Jim manage to hide his report card from his parents?

2. Describe the plan Jim's friends execute to deter cops from driving on the paths at the park.

3. Why does Jim call his abusive teacher "the fine Christian Brother"?

4. What does Jim say is the advantage of going to a private school?

5. What theory about paying for food do Jim and his friends share while stoned?

6. Why is Jim embarrassed during the game against St. Hilda's?

7. How does Jim's body feel when he tries heroin for the first time?

8. What behavior puzzles Jim about his rich classmates?

9. What does Jim say is the worst part of his addiction?

10. Why does Jim stop writing in the winter of 1964?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is New York a hero for Jim? How might his life writing be different if he grew up in another place?

Essay Topic 2

What struggles does Jim face in overcoming his drug use? How has the use affected him physically? How has it affected him mentally?

Essay Topic 3

How are teachers portrayed in the diaries? How is education portrayed? What feelings or experiences might explain Jim's fantasy of bringing a gun to school?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 622 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample