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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. Which word best describes Conrad's therapist?

2. At school, what is Conrad overwhelmed by?

3. Which of the following is Conrad's third goal?

4. What word best describes the meeting between Conrad and Karen?

5. What is the name of Conrad's brother?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Conrad prove by making an appointment with Dr. Berger?

2. How does Conrad feel he has let Beth down?

3. What causes Conrad to worry about his ability to survive in chapter 7?

4. In chapter 6, what do Cal and Beth fight about?

5. Why doesn't Conrad tell anybody that he has quit the swim team?

6. What makes Cal think that Conrad is resuming a regular routine in chapter 1?

7. What are Conrad's feelings about getting a car for Christmas?

8. Describe Beth's attitude toward Cal and Conrad in chapter 6.

9. Why does Conrad have trouble sleeping after his pop quiz in trigonometry class?

10. Why does Cal want to get Conrad a car for Christmas?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the role of Jeanine's character in Conrad's development into a stronger and more independent character? What about the other secondary characters?

Essay Topic 2

Conrad has a flashback to Jordan's death after he reads about Karen's death. Why does the author include a flashback? Does it elicit a more emotional response from the reader than merely providing back story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze cause and effect in the novel. For example, Karen's death causes Conrad to have an emotional breakthrough. Analyze at least three different causes and effects in the novel.

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