View a FREE sample

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 idea in Chapter 19, which Two Down shares with Ray, to get himself out of trouble?

2. What activity is Concorde involved in that will make the plan in Chapter 18 work?

3. What does Ray's father convince him to do while they are playing a match?

4. Who wins The Bet?

5. What is the atmosphere at Ponky after The Bet?

Short Essay Questions

1. What change does the reader see in Hoover when he distracts Ray's father with talk about seeing his own shadow?

2. How do Ray and Two Down win the first round against Concorde and Ray's father?

3. What does Ray learn about Madeline from her letter.

4. Why does Madeline get angry and leave Madeline's apartment?

5. After doing research at the library on his special club, the MacGregor 693, what does Ray find out?

6. How is Two Down's problem with Concorde initially resolved, and how does it backfire on him?

7. What does Dannie tell Ray that is critical when the two are discussing Dannie's relationship with Browning? Why is this significant?

8. When Ray, Two Down, and Dannie all arrive at The Mayflower Club on the same morning and realize that all three have a match scheduled, what do they realize will determine the winner of The Bet?

9. In Chapter 16, after The Bet is over, how have the dynamics at Ponky changed?

10. Who serves as Ray's father's caddy during the first half of the match at Ponky, and what surprises Ray about his father's caddy during the second half?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Using the theme of the book and the Epilogue as guides, make a prediction for Ray's future. How will his marriage to Dannie hold up over the years? What role will golf play in his life? What will happen with his relationship with his father? Use the text to support each prediction.

Essay Topic 3

Reflect on the diction that Reilly uses in Chapter 4. Is it effective in presenting the story and moving the plot forward? Is it believable, or do you believe that the characters don't actually talk that way? What kind of atmosphere does Reilly's diction create in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 896 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample