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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 outcome of Ray's third attempt?

2. Why does Ray's plan fail?

3. What sets Dannie apart from the other Chops?

4. Who is Ray's secret girlfriend?

5. What does Two Down win at a golf tournament?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Briefly describe Two Down's second plan to win The Bet, described in Chapter 13.

3. Describe Two Down's attitude toward betting.

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

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

6. What happens with the flirting between Ray and Madeline in Chapter 13?

7. What are some of the similarities seen in Chapter 3 between each golf course and its respective members?

8. Briefly describe Ray's plan to win The Bet in Chapter 8 and why it fails.

9. Why is Thud, an ex-con, chosen to hold the money for The bet?

10. What is the dynamic between Ray and Madeline by the end of Chapter 12?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author's background can sometimes reveal much about a text. Conduct research on the author and present both a short biography as well as a commentary on how his background plays a role in this novel.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Ray and his father are contrasted throughout the novel, but there are certain similarities between them. Compare and contrast the two characters in terms of motivation,character traits, and character interaction.

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