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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. The boy wants to make the bike trip without any _________, so he puts them in the garbage disposal.

2. When the boy was a child, he was teased for having his stuffed animal - Pokey the ________.

3. Adam hears the approach of a ____________ coming up on the road behind him.

4. Adam is afraid that __________ will laugh at him if he reveals any of the concerns he has about his family.

5. Brint tells Adam to __________ and let the thoughts from his memory come, but this doesn't work.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Adam now see that his mother was afraid of, as be recalls in his interrogations?

2. What does the man do when Adam offers him $25 to tell him where his bike has gone?

3. What does Adam ask Brint about Paul Delmonte when the name is brought up again?

4. Why doesn't Adam tell Amy anything about his spying on his family?

5. Where did Adam and his family stop when they were out looking for a motel on their adventure?

6. What questions does Adam want Brint to answer for him, though Brint does not answer them?

7. What happened when the Farmer family pulled to the side of the road to pretend they were looking at the countryside?

8. Though Adam is not responsive to Brint, what is his physical status, according to Brint's notes?

9. What happens to Adam as the car travels slowly down the road to the city of Hookset?

10. Who are the other customers in the restaurant where Adam is sitting and eating clam chowder?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At many times, the family seems to try to cling to normalcy in the flashbacks, even though things are far from normal.

Part 1: Why do you think the family continues to try to be normal?

Part 2: Do you think Adam knows on some level that things weren't actually as normal as they appeared? Why or why not?

Part 3: What might be a negative outcome of pretending that all is well when it actually isn't?

Essay Topic 2

The narrator of every story should be questioned by the reader, as their telling of the story affects what the reader knows - and doesn't know.

Part 1: Why do you think the author chose Adam to be the narrator of this story?

Part 2: Do you think Adam is a reliable narrator for the story? Why or why not?

Part 3: Who might have been a better narrator for the story? Why?

Essay Topic 3

While Adam seems to be a slightly older boy in the story, it also seems he has a lot of connection to his childhood.

Part 1: In what ways is Adam still like a child in the book?

Part 2: Why do you think Adam chooses to sing "Farmer in the Dell" so many times?

Part 3: Do you think Adam is a mature person or an immature person? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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