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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. Tim Scanlon promised to help Gantos by going in with him to buy ____________, which they could sell.

2. After being battered by storms for three days, what did Hamilton order Gantos to follow?

3. In Section 1, Chapter 1, Jack Gantos admits the prisoner photograph on the front cover of the book is him, taken when he was how old?

4. What kind of business did Jack Gantos's father run?

5. Where was Ernest Hemingway born?

Short Essay Questions

1. What experience did Gantos have within the political revolution in St. Croix?

2. Where did Gantos's father take the family and point out criminals to Gantos?

3. How does Gantos describe his journal and its divisions in Section 1, Chapter 3?

4. How does Gantos describe his school in Fort Lauderdale? What was Gantos like among his schoolmates?

5. What did Hamilton and the Japanese exchange as thank you gifts? How was it transported?

6. What led Hamilton and Gantos to follow the Coast Guard in Section 2, Chapter 3?

7. Where did Gantos live the remainder of his senior year in high school? Where was his family?

8. Where did Gantos and Hamilton find fuel in Section 2, Chapter 3? Why was it necessary?

9. What did Gantos discover in his discussions with Tim Scanlon? What plan did the two of them hatch?

10. Why did Gantos take upon the job building the crate for Rik in Section 2, Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the career of the author, Jack Gantos. For what popular children's series is Gantos well-known? What awards has the author won for his writing? When was Hole in My Life published and what impact did it have on Gantos's career?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the setting of St. Croix in the early 1970s and the business of John Gantos. Why was the business failing in St. Croix? What led to the uprisings? How did Gantos feel upon his arrival? How much hope did Gantos have for building money for college in this situation? What did the family hope to do?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the final route of Gantos and Hamilton into New York, and discuss their plans with Rik upon docking. Where were the men to meet up? Had Gantos been to New York before? How does he describe it? What did Gantos fear most? Were his fears justified? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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