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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. What holiday does the author reflect most on during that first day in Hohman?

2. What teacher makes the class write a theme on Christmas in Chapter 2?

3. Who sings what he considers to be "the greatest theme song of all time"?

4. What paralyzes Ralph with fear at the top of the "special kid thing"?

5. What was the reaction of Ralph's mom to the "special kid thing"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Ludlow Kissel infamous in Hohman?

2. How important was the "major award" to the Old Man?

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

4. How does Ralph's mother react to the fight?

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

6. Who is Grover Dill, and what does he represent to Ralph?

7. Describe the setting for many of the stories in the book--Hohman, Indiana.

8. Explain Ralph's theory of Official People.

9. Why is Ralph paralyzed with fear when he reaches the top of Magic Mountain?

10. How is Ralph punished for damaging the family car?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ralph's innocence keeps him out of trouble during a couple of stories in the book. Compare and contrast at least two events in which Ralph was saved from punishment because of his youth and innocence. Explore what was his actual punishment and whether that punishment was more or less effective than one that could have come from an adult. Discuss the irony in how his youth kept him from getting into big trouble even as he was trying to be more grown up.

Essay Topic 2

Ralph has many theories about people that he shares throughout the book. One such theory is that people are put into two groups: Official People and The Rest of Us. Discuss Ralph's theory, and decide if he is correct or if there are faults with his theory. Use examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

What makes the book have a community feel about it that can be related to by a great number of people, regardless of whether they grew up during the Great Depression or in the Midwest?

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