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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. When Joey storms back into the schoolgirl's bedroom, what blinds him upon entry?

2. At what time of day does Pimko drop Joey off at the Piórkowski school?

3. Who does Kneadus choose as his second in defense during the dual?

4. Which of the following adjectives does Pimko use to describe the children on the playground in his notes?

5. Through which of his body parts does Kneadus think Syphon's innocence can be ruined?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Kneadus burst into the Youngblood family home soon after Joey moves in with the family?

2. What relationship does Pimko hope will transpire between Joey and Zuta?

3. What complaint does the teacher have when Pimko drops Joey off for his first day of school?

4. How does Zuta react when Joey enters her room unannounced?

5. What bizarre dream does Joey have the night before the novel opens?

6. How does Joey react when Zuta calls him a clown?

7. How does Joey react to hearing Zuta speak on the telephone with her friends?

8. At the opening of the novel, how does Joey feel when he first wakes from sleep?

9. What community does the narrator claim is the stupidest community of all, and why?

10. How does the narrator claim a novel is truly read?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The narrator of this novel often interjects his opinions of what is going on and speaks directly to the reading audience. What is accomplished by employing this type of intrusive narrator? What is lost? As a reader, describe your reaction to reading a narrator like this. What did his opinions add to the novel? What did they distract from? Choose at least two examples of scenes from the text that you believe best exemplify and strengthen your argument and describe those scenes in this essay.

Essay Topic 2

At various places in the novel, the prose is broken up with chunks of poetry or quotes from other published authors. First, choose at least two of these quotes from the novel and explain their significance within the story. Then, explain what is accomplished in the novel overall by including these secondary texts. Do you think the goal is accomplished?

Essay Topic 3

One of the most important scenes in the novel is the emotional battle between Kneadus and Syphus. First, describe what the two boys were battling for. Who was involved in this battle? Who was left out of the fight? Then, describe the actual events of the battle. What emotions were thrown onto the table? Which boy was victorious? Finally, describe the after-effects of the battle on each of the boys in the days following the battle.

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