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 is wrong with Ben's mother?

2. What does Ben want to do with his teachers in his senior year?

3. What does the doctor do after he tells Ben about his illness?

4. What does Lambeer say to Ben about Malcolm X's book?

5. What does Ben do after he drives home from the doctor's office?

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 Ben want from his teachers in his senior year, what teacher is going to be a problem with his goal, and why might the teacher be an impediment?

3. What sport does Ben try out for, and what do the other players think about him playing that sport?

4. Where does Ben go after the dance and what does he do there?

5. What does Ben find when he stops at Rudy's and what does Ben find out there? What does Rudy show him?

6. What does the doctor tell Ben and what does the doctor do to be certain about his information?

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

8. What does Ben do after he leaves the doctor's office upon receiving the bad news and what does he say to the doctor when he returns to his office?

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

10. What does Ben do about the Horseshoe Bend game, and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "Deadline" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "Deadline"? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in "Deadline" to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of "Deadline", identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement.) Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in "Deadline". (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot.) Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not? Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,278 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample