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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. With what was Gantos paid while working in St. Croix with his father?

2. According to Hamilton, how did Gantos look after the boat ran aground?

3. In Section 2, Chapter 2, Gantos, in his stoned state, realized Hamilton was partially insane as he began to refuse to _________.

4. Gantos's father believed Rik to be a __________.

5. With what did Gantos and Rik fill the bottom of the crate?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. Where did Gantos and Hamilton find fuel in Section 2, Chapter 3? Why was it necessary?

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

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

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

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Ernest Hemingway and John Hersey and their influence on Jack Gantos. When did each of these authors live and what were their major works? How did Gantos compare himself to Hersey, and why did he consider himself a coward?

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)

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