View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What advice does Cyril give Willie to help him deal with the dreams that he has been having?
(a) Cyril suggests that he tells his parents about his dreams.
(b) Cyril tells him to acknowledge that he already knows what the dreams are trying to tell him.
(c) Cyril suggests that he take a warm bath before he goes to bed.
(d) Cyril tells him to exercise before bed so that he is too tired to dream.

2. Why do Willie and his father wear helmets when they ride the motorcycle?
(a) Willie's father is concerned about safety and requires all riders to wear a helmet.
(b) Willie had a friend who was killed in a motorcycle accident, so he always wears his helmet.
(c) The state law requires them to wear helmets, but they wouldn't wear them otherwise.
(d) They only wear them to make Mrs. Weaver happy, and they take them off when they get around the corner.

3. How has Willie changed over the twelve months before the novel begins?
(a) His voice has become squeaky and his face is full of acne.
(b) He has gotten bigger, stronger, and better.
(c) He has learned to appreciate the gifts he has been given.
(d) He has learned that there is more to life than baseball.

4. Why does Willie feel safe on the motorcycle with his father?
(a) Willie's father has never had an accident before.
(b) Willie knows that his father is a cautious driver.
(c) Willie believes that his father is immortal.
(d) Willie and his father are wearing helmets.

5. What advice does Big Will give to Willie regarding his poor pass in the last football game?
(a) "Never do less than your best just because you're playing an inferior team."
(b) "Any son of mine will not embarrass me with another poor play like that."
(c) "Always visualize the path the ball should take before you release your throw."
(d) "Life is too short to make bad passes."

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Big Will react when he regains control of himself and realizes that he has pushed Willie too far?

2. To what does Cyril compare Willie's accident?

3. Why does Big Will say that his guilt over Willie's accident is more difficult than Mrs. Weaver's guilt over Missy's death?

4. Why is Willie wearing a sweatshirt with the word LURCH printed on the front?

5. What issue does Willie's mom raise about the poor pass?

Short Essay Questions

1. What explanation does Hawk give to explain why he did not make it to the school on the night of the fire?

2. What steps does Willie take to make sure that no one will be able to find him?

3. What details make Willie's final play of the Crazy Horse Electric game legendary?

4. Why does Big Will get angry with Willie on the racquetball court?

5. How has Willie's family changed since his accident?

6. Why does Willie ask the question about Missy while he and his father are practicing in the back yard?

7. Why does Willie write the four postcards that he asks the boy at the station to send for him?

8. Why does Willie return to Oakland?

9. Why does Big Will suggest to Willie that he savor every moment leading up to the Crazy Horse Electric game?

10. How does Big Will actually harm Willie in trying to help him?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,333 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample