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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. Why does Willie go to the church to draw?

2. What do the young Fletcher boys come looking for at Tom's?

3. Who does WIllie meet while he is in the yard in Chapter 1?

4. What news does Zach bring to the kids about school?

5. On their walk to the field in the beginning of Chapter 7, what does Tom have Willie do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the entrance of the post-office boy suspenseful?

2. What are Sundays like for Willie at home with his mother? How do those Sundays differ from the Sundays he has with Tom?

3. Why is Willie ashamed of himself? Should Willie be ashamed? Who has taught Willie his values and what kind of values are they?

4. How is Willie's reaction to the squirrel and the dog telling of his character?

5. What changes come over Tom as he takes Willie into town and spends the day with him?

6. What astonishing discoveries are made at the library?

7. Why has Willie come to stay with Tom and how does Tom feel about this?

8. How does Willie become humiliated at school on the first day? What do the children do to make him feel better?

9. What is "The Case" that is spoken of in the chapter title, and how does it reveal the differences between Zach and the other children?

10. Tom mutters to himself, "best not get fond of the boy, Thomas." Why do you believe that he says this, and what does he mean by it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is Tom Willie's psychiatrist and doctor? How does Tom approach the healing of Willie?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the parenting of Tom versus Mrs. Beech.

Essay Topic 3

Who does the author take from Willie, and why does the author have them die?

(see the answer keys)

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