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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. Whom does Ralph join on Chapter 8's expedition?

2. What club does Ralph so badly want to join?

3. What did Ralph promise to do if he was allowed to go on the expedition in Chapter 8?

4. What is a crappie?

5. How did the article's author get to the tavern the first time?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do we learn about Ralph by knowing he likes Red Ryder and the Little Orphan Annie radio show?

2. With what does Ralph struggle most in the story about the book report?

3. Why do you think Ralph wanted to be part of the Little Orphan Annie Secret Circle so badly?

4. What does the reader learn about the main character in the opening chapter?

5. Why does Ralph think people in Northern Indiana like fireworks so much?

6. How do the Orpheum movie contests teach Ralph that nothing in life is free?

7. What skills does Wilbur Duckworth display during the final band performance of his high school career?

8. What does Ralph think about people who like JuJu Baby candy as children?

9. What is the significance of the blind date story?

10. Why didn't Ralph's parents both share the same feelings about the "major award"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore and describe the theme "parents versus children" used throughout the book. Why was it such an important theme? Did it help bring laughter and joy or heartache and pain to the book and why? How can everyone relate to this theme?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme "Nothing in life is free" as described in the book. Give examples of how it was used throughout the book. Include your opinion as to whether that statement is true or false, using personal examples.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss "coming of age" as a theme in the book and how it played such a large role in the types of stories Ralph told. Why do children struggle to become grown up so quickly? Why is the transition to adulthood often so difficult?

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This section contains 1,016 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample