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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. What is the main topic of conversation in the locker room before the game?

2. Who does Ben help to his feet during his first basketball game?

3. Who fights Bull?

4. What does Ben say to Bull when he goes to bring him home?

5. What song does Bull come home singing after Mess Night?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the focus of Sister Loretta's discussion on sex? How does Ben react to this discussion?

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

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

6. Why does Bull criticize Ben's play during his first basketball game? How does Ben feel about this?

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

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

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

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 is Sammy Wertzburger? How is Sammy significant to the story? What does Sammy's friendship mean to Ben? How does this friendship change Ben? Is this Ben's first close friend?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,327 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample