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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. Who drags Sammy from his car on lover's lane?

2. What is Ben charged with after Junior arrests him?

3. How did Ben's first coach die?

4. What does Ben think about Mr. Loring's teaching style?

5. Who does Sister Loretta say is watching when someone masturbates?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sammy see at lover's point? What does he hope to do with the information?

2. How is Bull's behavior on Christmas morning in contrast with the story Mary Anne tells on Christmas Eve?

3. Why is Arrabelle frightened for Toomer in the aftermath of the rape?

4. Sammy arranges a date with a college girl by using a fake name. What does this say about Sammy's attitude toward women?

5. Why does Ben invite Mary Anne to the prom?

6. Why does Mr. Loring tease Ben in his English class? How does Ben feel about this attention?

7. What is the significance of the story Mary Anne tells on Christmas Eve as the family waits for Bull to get ready for church?

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

9. What does Mary Anne confess to Ben during the prom?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss setting. What is the setting of this novel? How does setting influence the plot of the novel? How does setting influence the characters? How would a different setting affect the characters of this novel? Would a different setting make a difference to any key characters? Which characters would be affected? Which characters would not be affected?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of coming of age. Name a few examples of this theme in the novel. Ben turns eighteen during this novel. Is this part of his coming of age? Does age have anything to do with maturity? What else effects Ben's change, his maturity? How does Ben's maturing change his relationship with others in the novel? What about Mary Anne? How does she mature in this novel? Does she change as much as Ben? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Why does Bull begin going to Hobie's Grill? What is significant about Bull's behavior in public compared to his behavior at home? Why is Bull different in public? What does this say about the behaviors of an abuser? How does this behavior make seeking help more difficult for the abuser's family? Is this behavior stereotypical? What other stereotypes exist in this book? List as many as you can.

(see the answer keys)

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