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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. Where had Jack Gantos's father moved his business in Section 1, Chapter 3?

2. What was the name of Jack Gantos's father?

3. To what was the third section of Gantos' journal dedicated?

4. 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?

5. What did Hamilton send up to the Japanese fishing vessel as a thank you gift?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is central in the exposition revealed in Section 1, Chapter 4? How is Gantos established as a character?

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

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

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

5. What did Gantos and Rik pack in the crate? How was Gantos paid?

6. Where did Gantos go after being kicked out of the Bacons' home?

7. Where did Gantos go after he was betrayed by Scanlon? What did he contemplate?

8. How does Gantos relate that prison helped him as a writer in Section 1, Chapter 1?

9. What presentation does Gantos describe at his school in Section 1, Chapter 3? What did he make of it?

10. What did Gantos learn from Hamilton along the journey in Section 2, Chapter 3?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the route taken by Gantos and Hamilton in Section 2, Chapter 2. How were these waters regulated? What dangers did the men face? Were there patrols in these areas? How dangerous was the possibility of pirates?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Describe and analyze the narrative structure of the autobiography. Where does Gantos' exposition transition into the rising action of the plot? Where is the climax of the narrative? What takes place in the denouement? How traditional is this plot structure?

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