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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 do Ben and Sammy spend Saturday night at lover's lane rather than the local hang out?

2. How did Bull's friend Causey burn his face?

3. What does Causey want Bull to have done to a black ace in his squad?

4. What is the Bohemian Mountain Approach?

5. On the night of Ben's first basketball game, Lillian gathers the children to do what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Ben's biggest fear as he tries out for basketball?

2. How is Mr. Loring different from the teachers Ben is used to? How does Ben feel about Mr. Loring?

3. Sammy's date is brutally raped after he is forced out of his car. What impact will this episode have on Sammy and the people of Ravenel?

4. Ben teases Mary Anne about how much he will miss her when he goes to college. What does this say about their relationship?

5. Why does Ben injure a player from the opposing team during a basketball game?

6. Why does Bull restrict what Ben can eat on game day?

7. What does Ben say to his father while taking him home after a night of drinking and fighting?

8. How does being Jewish affect Sammy?

9. Whom does Ben recall during try outs? What impact did this man have on Ben's life? What was Bull's role in this relationship?

10. Bull dies a hero. How does this affect the family dynamics?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Red Pettus? Why is Red cruel to others? Who does Red chose to pick on? Why? Does Red pick on Ben? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Who does Mary Anne most resemble, Lillian or Bull? Give some examples of this. Why does Mary Anne continuously attempted to goad her father? What does Mary Anne want from Bull? Why does Mary Anne talk about the future with such despair? Does Mary Anne really believe she will end up like her mother? Why? Is this why Mary Anne speaks of suicide?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of racism. What examples of racism are there in this novel? How does racism affect the characters of the novel directly? Indirectly? What characters are motivated by racism? What characters are affected by racism? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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