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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. Where was Russ when his father was shot?

2. How was Ruta Beth's family member murdered?

3. How many times was Odell shot during the shooting match at the tattoo parlor?

4. Where does Lamar want to have the image of the lion tattooed on his body?

5. How much money do Lamar and his gang steal during their restaurant robbery?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Lamar cope with his growing grief after Odell's death?

2. How does the public respond when Bud is once again put in the hospital after a shootout with Lamar and his gang?

3. What happens after Jeff's final baseball game with his team?

4. Why does Bud end up knocking door-to-door in the neighborhood, searching for clues?

5. How does Lamar prepare to stalk Bud and his family?

6. How does Holly escape after being kidnapped by Lamar?

7. What mixed reactions does Bud experience in regards to the public's opinion of Lamar?

8. What happens when Bud traces the tire tracks from the Denny's robbery to Ruta Beth's farm?

9. How does it go when Bud and Holly go house hunting together?

10. Why is Lamar depressed after the Denny's robbery?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Whenever the police catch up to the gang, Lamar always manages to outwit them. Give at least two examples of times when Lamar thought outside of the box and creatively came up with ways to outwit the police officers. Describe what Lamar was attempting to cover-up in these outwits, and what the results of his outwitting ways were.

Essay Topic 2

Baseball turns out to be an important symbolic element within the novel. First, explain what the significance of baseball is to Bud and his family. Then, compare / contrast that to the significance baseball has for Lamar and his gang. Finally, explain the symbolism of baseball in direct relation to Bud's chase of the gang.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, many of the main characters are in search of redemption for their past mistakes. Choose one character from the novel and explain his / her path to redemption. What past sins is this character hoping to absolve? What process does this character go through in his/her pursuit of redemption? In the end, is this character successfully redeemed for his/her sins? Why or why not?

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This section contains 968 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample