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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. Gantos wrote stories about those around him as well as his own ordeals in prison by journaling in his copy of a book by whom?

2. Where did Tim Scanlon claim he was picking up merchandise in Section 1, Chapter 4?

3. Instead of construction, Gantos and his father built _____________.

4. As Gantos spent time talking with Tim Scanlon he began to regret his decision to ____________.

5. What did Gantos and Hamilton believe a Japanese fishing vessel to be in Section 2, Chapter 3?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. Where did Gantos's family send him to finish high school? Why did he leave this home?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Gantos's first experiences with marijuana in high school. What did Gantos think of the party he attended? When did marijuana come into popular use in the United States? How prevalent was it during Gantos's youth in Florida?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss Gantos and Hamilton's interactions with the U.S. Coast Guard in Section 2, Chapter 3. What dangers did the men face with these close encounters? Why did Hamilton choose to follow the plane after the storm? Was this wise? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 992 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample