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. Why is Ben upset with Hey-Soos?

2. What reason does Ben give for not telling Coach sooner?

3. What does Coach say about the question Ben asks?

4. Who are two people Ben decides to definitely tell?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is happening to Ben's attitude, why and what does he begin to do because of it?

4. What does Dallas tell Ben about Joe Henry and what does Dallas ask Ben? What is Ben's response?

5. 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?

6. What does Lambeer tell Ben about Ben's project and what is Ben's response?

7. How does Ben feel about his secret on Christmas Eve, what does Hey-Soos tell him and what does Ben decide to do?

8. What does Ben tell Lambeer when the teacher asks him if he is going to change his project?

9. What happens in Ben's first confrontation with Rudy's drinking?

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

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

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.)

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,583 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample