View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where in Florida did Jack Gantos's parents send him so that he could finish school?

2. In Section 1, Chapter 2, Gantos explains he was in what year in high school when he began working?

3. What was the first stop for Hamilton and Gantos after they set sail?

4. Mr. Gantos would drive the family on trips to their hometown and spend time pointing out _______ to Jack.

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. How is Hamilton's knowledge of Gantos and his fears described in Section 2, Chapter 3?

5. Why did Gantos decide not to attend a university right away? How does he describe his meeting at a college in Section 1, Chapter 3?

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the figure of Rik in the narrative and Gantos' agreement to smuggle the hash into New York. How did Gantos feel about the dangers he faced? Why did he choose to make the risk? What did he hope to attain in escaping St. Croix?

Essay Topic 3

Define, identify and analyze the foreshadowing in Section 2, Chapter 4. What sense did Gantos and Hamilton get upon realizing their boat had been moved? How does the author use this incident to raise suspense in the narrative?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 983 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample