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

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

3. What did Gantos begin doing with books to occupy his time?

4. How much money did Gantos give Scanlon to make his deal?

5. Rik asked Gantos to call him if he saw __________ in the harbor.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Describe Gantos's experience with drugs in high school. What did he think of the experience?

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

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

6. How does the author describe St. Croix upon his arrival in Section 2, Chapter 1?

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

8. How does the author describe the cover photo from the book in Section 1, Chapter 1? What circumstances does he relate which caused his acne?

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

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 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 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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 990 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample