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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 Cody and Ben's mother feel about the game?

2. What changes the Horseshoe Bend game on the day of the game?

3. What is wrong with Ben's mother?

4. What does Hey-Soos tell Ben about Ben's interaction with people?

5. What does the coach remind the players of in his first talk to them?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What are Ben's two other main goals for his senior year besides his academic goal?

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

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

6. What happens to Ben's second date with Dallas?

7. What do Ben and Cody find when they get home, what does it tell them and what does their father say about the situation?

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

9. 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?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Over the course of "Deadline", Rick grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. Deadline might be considered a slice of Rick's larger story of his "coming of age." It might be said that Deadline is a "bildungsroman" of Rick Fisher. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Rick as he changes from a more carefree, innocent boy to a wiser, young man. What are the significant events that change Rick?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Rick's growth throughout "Deadline", do you think "Deadline" could be considered Rick's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in "Deadline" who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 2

Ben is learning how to cope with this new situation, trying to define the proper time to let the truth out, and he is trying to understand those around him. In this chapter, he seems to have found himself. With confidence, he turns away the new therapist and stands up to his teacher. He does it respectfully and with a solid plan. Ben shows that he is listening to Hey-Soos and is willing to look at people from a different perspective.

1. Do you think Ben would have acquired his confidence if he had not been dying? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. What do you think Ben has learned about the people around him by listening to them and talking about them to Hey-Soos? How has his situation enabled him to look at people differently? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Ben is trying to figure out when and how to tell people about his illness. Dallas reacts in anger. Why do you think Dallas gets angry at him and do you think she should forgive him automatically because he is dying? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Ben doesn't question his choice to avoid treatment, but he's starting to realize that life is bittersweet. Every time he enjoys something, he realizes that the experience comes along with a bit of sadness since it won't last. Since there are so few people in the town, everyone in town is invited, and the music is played to please everyone. Ben looks at everything with a new light and wants to be around longer. He is very aware that this might be the best night of his life. He feels the clash of mortality and immortality as he enjoys the pleasures of the evening while knowing that it won't last and he will soon be gone.

1. Do you think life is balanced by joy and sorrow? Why or why not? Do you think Ben's life has more sorrow than joy? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. What do you think are ways one might be able to see life in a new light even if one is not dying? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Do you think something pleasurable is even more so if you know it will last only a short time? 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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