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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 Rudy confess to Ben?

2. What does Ben ask in Coach's class?

3. What does coach tell Ben about Lambeer's class?

4. Why does Dallas back up Ben in Lambeer's class?

5. What kind of list does Ben make?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Cody say to Ben after he tells him of his illness?

2. How is Ben feeling about Hey-Soos at the beginning of Chapter 11, why does Ben feel that way and what does Hey-Soos advise?

3. Where does Ben stop after leaving Rudy's, and what does he find out there?

4. What does Rudy's note to Ben say and what is Ben's response?

5. Who is the first person Ben tells about his illness, what does he say to him and what is his response?

6. What does Ben do about his therapist's assignment?

7. What team beats Ben's football team in late November, and why might they have been beaten?

8. What does Rudy tell Ben is the reason he is an alcoholic?

9. Why does Ben go to see Rudy at three in the morning, and what does he find there?

10. What has changed in November for Ben with football, how is the team doing and what does Coach think about Cody? How does he feel about Ben and the team?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The day after Rudy dies, Ben goes to the courthouse. His conversation with the sheriff gets him thinking about the value of life. The man seemed more interested in talking about the football game than he did in dealing with the life of the town drunk. That day Ben has a hard time concentrating because the events of the past few months have Ben really thinking about people and their lives. He thinks about factors in their lives that contributed to the way each person ended out.

1. Do you think Ben handled the situation with Rudy correctly? Do you think he should have called the police right after Rudy told him? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Why do you think people devalue a human life if it is someone like the town drunk? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Chose either Ben, Rudy, Dallas or Sooner and discuss how the factors in his or her life contributed to how that person became who he or she is. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "Deadline". Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Crutcher chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Crutcher chooses the metaphors he does?

3. Discuss Crutcher's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliffhangers, deux ex machina, etc.), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Crutcher use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme.)

(see the answer keys)

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