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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the Judge do when Roy asks for a raise?
(a) He gives him a smaller raise.
(b) He gives him the raise, saying he is a valuable player.
(c) He lectures him on the evils of money.
(d) He fires him because of his arrogance.

2. What does Memo's reaction to Bump's death tell the reader, given her lack of relationship with him?
(a) It shows she loved Bump, but quickly forgot him.
(b) It shows she cannot form stable relationships.
(c) It shows she didn't care much for Bump.
(d) It shows she really loved Roy all along.

3. What warning does Red give Roy that he ignores?
(a) To watch his money and protect his old age.
(b) To not play too hard because he was really too old to play baseball and might get injured.
(c) To beware of Memo, who is a bad influence.
(d) To watch out about Fowler, who is jealous of him.

4. What does Roy dream of the first night with the Knights as he drifts off to sleep?
(a) About trains and the shooting by Harriet Bird.
(b) About pitching a perfect game.
(c) About being named MVP.
(d) About winning the next game.

5. What viewpoint does the author take when he tells us about Roy's declaration and what it might lead to?
(a) Third person limited.
(b) Omniscient narrator.
(c) First person.
(d) Third person.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Pop dislike Bump Bailey?

2. What does Memo brag to Roy about when they go on a ride one night?

3. How does Roy relate to Pop?

4. Where does The Judge get his money?

5. What headlines in the newspaper catches Sam's attention?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Memo talk about on her ride in the country with Roy?

2. What purpose does Malamud have for repeatedly using dreams in his story? Why is he employing this technique, and what point of view is it?

3. What did Roy see immediately after he beat up The Judge and left the tower where he was?

4. Why does Roy have doubts about playing with the Knights when he has longed for fifteen years to play with them? What about his dream changes when he meets the team?

5. How does Memo treat Roy after the fans declare him a hero.

6. When Roy is in Memo's motel room, and she is talking about Gus, what does say about their relationship? Explain what the true nature of that relationship is.

7. Discuss the dreams of Roy and the failures he has experienced up to this point.

8. How did Roy feel about accepting The Judge's offer and what did he do?

9. Explain the term "fair weather fan" and how the term relates to the novel.

10. What did Iris tell Roy in her letter, and what was his reaction to it?

(see the answer keys)

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