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. What was the name of the physician's assistant who helped Gantos find a position with the medical staff?

2. In Section 2, Chapter 4, Gantos laments that everyone in prison has a story of __________.

3. In Section 3, Chapter 4, Gantos was sent to a federal prison in what city?

4. Where did Hamilton and Gantos stay in New York in Section 2, Chapter 4?

5. On the flight to New York, Gantos saw a newspaper reporting whose capture in Section 3, Chapter 1?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the bust by the FBI in Section 2, Chapter 4. How did Gantos escape?

2. What was Gantos allowed to take with him when he left prison in Section 3, Chapter 7? What was he not allowed to take?

3. What does Gantos write about "escape stories" in Section 3, Chapter 7?

4. What did Gantos do when he realized he was likely going to prison in Section 3, Chapter 2?

5. How does Gantos describe his worsening acne problem in Section 3, Chapter 2?

6. What did Gantos learn from his family in Section 3, Chapter 1? What actions did he take at his father's advice?

7. When was Gantos released from prison in Section 3, Chapter 7? What were the conditions of his release?

8. Where did Gantos go after arriving in Florida in Section 2, Chapter 4? What was his mindset?

9. What happened at Gantos's parole board hearing in Section 3, Chapter 5?

10. What did Gantos learn about the charges against him in Section 3, Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 997 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample