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

2. Where did Gantos drive with Scanlon to make a deal in Section 1, Chapter 4?

3. When a friend invited Gantos to a party to smoke marijuana, what did he end up doing once he'd arrived?

4. With what family did Jack Gantos first live in Florida while he worked on finishing school?

5. To what was the second section of Gantos' journal dedicated?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How old was Gantos when he began working full-time? How does he describe the work and his lifestyle in Section 1, Chapter 2?

3. How is Gantos's lack of experience illustrated in Section 2, Chapter 3? How is Hamilton's experience illustrated?

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

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

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

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

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

9. How was Gantos inspired by the writing of Jack Kerouac in Section 1, Chapter 4?

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 beat writer movement, Jack Kerouac and On the Road. When did the beats gain fame and what influence did they have on Jack Gantos? How did On the Road have an impact on Gantos? Where did he hope to travel based on the book?

Essay Topic 2

Describe Jack Gantos' life with the Bacon family. Why did Gantos move in with the Bacons? What business did the Bacons run from their home? How did the Bacon family feel about Gantos? What caused him to be kicked out?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the exchange between Hamilton and Gantos and the Japanese fishing vessel in Section 2, Chapter 3. Did Gantos and Hamilton face any danger in approaching the craft? How did the Japanese treat the men? How did Gantos feel about the exchange?

(see the answer keys)

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