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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 card game does Steve play in his cell after church on Sunday, July 12th?

2. What does Steve think his mother is doing when she visits him on Sunday, July 12th?

3. On July 17, what kind of decision does Petrocelli say Steve has made?

4. What does O'Brien tell Steve about Bobo's testimony the day after Bobo testified?

5. What game do the guys in Steve's cell play on Saturday, July 11?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did King visit Ms. Moore on the day of the crime?

2. What does O'Brien say she is going to do on the weekend of the 11th?

3. Who is Eddie, and what is he accused of?

4. On Sunday the 12th, how does Steve see his brother Jerry?

5. Who owns thel gun used in the crime, and is it a legal gun?

6. How is the visual image of the courtroom just before Steve's verdict is read represented?

7. What is the visitors' room like?

8. When O'Brien comes to see Steve on July 14 after Bobo's testimony, what does she say she has to now do in court to save Steve?

9. How does the medical examiner say Mr. Nesbitt died?

10. How do Steve's parents act when they come to visit on Sunday the 12th?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Walter Dean Myers uses film and a screenplay format not only as a narrative mode, but also as a metaphor and symbol in Steve's life. In an analytical essay explaining how film works literally as well as symbolically in this novel, describe the ways in which "film" plays an important role in Steve's life. What are some of the things that characterize the role film plays?

Essay Topic 2

One of the most significant players in Steve's life is Kathy O'Brien. Write a character analysis of Kathy O'Brien, explaining who she is, how she behaves, and what her role in this novel is. Be sure to offer specific textual passages showing how this character is developed throughout the novel. You may want to include whether or not Kathy O'Brien's character undergoes any changes, and if so, detail them.

Essay Topic 3

This novel features a family where there are two parents, yet somehow Steve still managed to get into trouble. Analyze the roles Steve's parents play in his life, including before, during, and after prison. What characterizes his relationship with his parents? What responsibility do they have for him getting in trouble (if any) and what are the ways in which they tried to help him out of trouble?

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