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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 does George McNab say as he leaves the room the day of the party?

2. What does Maniac do as a feat with the bison pen?

3. Where does Maniac make his bedroom now that June is almost here?

4. What does Maniac experience in early July in the early mornings?

5. What does Mars Bar come to ask Maniac after the trolley incident?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who saves Maniac from freezing to death and how do they go about it?

2. Why does Maniac knowingly let the McNab boys give him crazy feats to perform?

3. What do the worms symbolize?

4. How does the situation with Mars Bar climax at Piper's birthday party and how does Mars Bar deal with it all?

5. What tale does Mars Bar tell Maniac about Russell?

6. How is the race between Maniac and Mars Bar uncharacteristic of Maniac?

7. How does Grayson't death affect Maniac?

8. At the end of Chapter 33, in January, what does Maniac decide about his life?

9. What precious gift does Grayson give to Maniac for Christmas and how does it affect Maniac?

10. How does Mars Bar's rescue of Russell help change the prejudices of the town?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is the pillbox the most frightening part of the whole novel? What does the pillbox symbolize? When John McNab states that others will build one once they see the McNabs, why does this make Maniac sick? Why should it make anyone sick?

Essay Topic 2

Why doesn't Maniac choose to remain at the Pickwell house? Why does he not choose this loving family as his own when he knows that they would embrace him? What does this say about Maniac's past and his future?

Essay Topic 3

What are the flashbacks in the novel? What is the author's purpose in using the flashbacks?

(see the answer keys)

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