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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. Which of the characters stands up for Henry when a boy tries to beat him up and causes the boy to run away crying?

2. Why does the doctor say that Big Henry should not blame Henry for the car accident?

3. What direction does Henry tell his father that they are traveling when asked?

4. Why doesn't Henry play with the boys in the neighborhood?

5. Where is Big Henry's brother?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is a common theme among many of the children and adults by this point in the novel?

2. How can the reader infer that Aunt Anna and her family need money to buy food?

3. What events transpired which led Henry to be sent to the principal's office?

4. How does Henry feel after the beating from his father and what actions does he take?

5. What is odd about the first afternoon that David and Henry walk home from school together?

6. Describe the relationship between Lila Jean and Henry and the things they do together.

7. What does Henry's father overreact to after Henry completes the assigned lawn chores and what punishment does he give to Henry?

8. Describe, in detail, an example of Big Henry's tendency to create scenes in public.

9. Though Big Henry and Katherine have been married for a number of years, what new information did Katherine learn about her husband?

10. What happens when Henry's father drives to an orange grove to pick oranges?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about Henry's experience in the ROTC. Do you believe ROTC was good for Henry? Do you believe Henry should join the military? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the relationship between Baldy and Henry. How does Henry justify to himself that he is similar to Baldy? Henry says that he doesn't like Baldy, but yet spends time with him and walks him home each day, why do you think this is the case.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about how Henry's destruction of the spider web is really him lashing out against his own entrapment. Why do you believe this is or is not the case? Be sure to use examples from the text to support your answers. Do you believe Henry is justified in wanting to lash out? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 856 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample