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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. Who is Dr. McFarland?

2. What does Freddy sell at a flea market?

3. Who is Izzy?

4. Why does Mike quit working for Goble?

5. Who does Mike go on a picnic with?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who has high blood pressure?

2. Who does Mike go on a picnic with?

3. What does Goble like about Mike?

4. Why does Mike take Nate to the doctor?

5. What does Nick offer Mike in Following Up?

6. Who pulls a tooth out of Mike's mouth?

7. Where are Tino's wife and kids?

8. Who gets braces?

9. Why does Mike quit working for Goble?

10. Who is always protesting in the street?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring the theme of family in the novel. Why is family important to Mike in particular, and in what ways does he demonstrate that family almost always comes first for him? Use examples from the text as support.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay exploring the novel's theme of coming of age. In what ways does Mike come of age -- grow, change, realize things about himself and the world around -- throughout the novel? Use examples from the text as support.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay exploring Mike's desire to be a writer. Why does a career in writing appeal to Mike? What does he like about writing in general? Use examples from the text as support.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 469 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample