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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 does Coach want Ben to clear up before he plays football?

2. Why do Cody and Ben come out of the Horseshoe Bend game heroes?

3. What does Ben plan to win in his senior year?

4. What does Ben's father say about his wife's illness?

5. What does Dr. Wagner say about Ben not starting treatment right away?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ben want to do for his senior year, where does he live and how does he do in school?

2. What does Dallas ask Ben when he sees her after the Horseshoe Bend game and what does she tell him?

3. What does the coach ask Ben at the luncheon and what does he say Ben needs to do?

4. What is happening to Ben in Lambeer's class, what project does Ben decide upon and what is Lambeer's opinion of the project?

5. How does Ben act when he receives the information from the doctor, and what is his first thought about the information?

6. How does Ben find out he might have a serious physical illness, and how does Ben insist he learn about this illness?

7. Where does Ben go after he leaves Dallas's house and what is bothering him?

8. How does Lambeer find out what Ben is reading and what does he say about it?

9. What does Hey-Soos say to Ben about Dallas's sharing, and why is Ben worried?

10. What does Ben ask his father about his mother and what is his father's response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and sometimes it is the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "Deadline" is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

The reader sees a connection which can explain even more why Ben has so much admiration for Coach. The man is dedicated to academic studies even during the football season. He is also very open-minded. He has no problem with Ben reading the Malcolm X book, and when another student voices the opinion that the book is bad, Coach turns the situation into a lesson on democracy and book burning. He knows how to reach the students and keep an open mind.

1. Discuss the stereotype of coaches not caring about academics and whether you believe that is true or not. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think the coach burning the book was wrong? Do you think it was a good demonstration? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Do you think students' reading should be censored by the school? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Ben absolutely refuses to get treatment, but he also shows that he can compromise. This is demonstrated by his accepting counseling with Marla in order to make the doctor happy. He jokes around with her, but also shows that he understands there is a bit of seriousness in his situation. His disease does affect him mentally, and he wakes up scared, but this doesn't hold him back or make him change his mind about treatment. It just makes him curious.

1. Discuss in depth why you think Ben refuses to get treatment for his disease, and whether you think it was a reasonable decision. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. What are the ways in which you think Ben will benefit from talking with a counselor? Do you think it was right of the doctor to ask it? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Do you think curiosity about dying and what happens when and or after you die is normal? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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