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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 is the only way a non-member of The Mayflower Club can play golf there?

2. At what point does Dannie's plan fall apart?

3. Who is the owner of Ponky?

4. How did Ray's father respond to Travis' illness?

5. Who is Ray first assigned to at his new job?

Short Essay Questions

1. What effect does The Bet have on the atmosphere at Ponky?

2. What does Ray remember as one of the most elaborate pranks he and Two Down played in high school?

3. Briefly describe the details of Dannie's first plan to win The Bet and why it fails.

4. What did Ray do to try to get back into professional golf the season after his uncle's and brother's deaths? Did it work?

5. Why does Ray lose his job at The Mayflower Club?

6. Describe Two Down's attitude toward betting.

7. Which character is the most obsessed with looking at The Mayflower Club and why?

8. Describe the terms of The Bet and list the people involved.

9. Describe Ray's first assignment as a caddy. What is the member like?

10. To whom was Ray once married, and what happened to their marriage?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the author create suspense to keep the reader interested? What are the events that contribute to a feeling of suspense? What effect do they have on the reader? Is the reader's curiosity satisfied by the end of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

What statement does the author make by including such blatant racism in the novel? What is his motivation for making this social commentary? What effect do you think he hopes to have on his audience? Write about your reaction to the social commentary made by the author. Support your opinions by including details from the text and examples from your own observation or experience.

Essay Topic 3

What narration in the latter part of the novel indicates that Ray has reached a new level of introspection and is going beyond simple storytelling? What analysis does Ray do in this chapter of himself? Of his father? How does his introspection affect the plot and Ray's decision to end the match in a tie?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 804 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample