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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. How many Socs show up at the rumble?

2. Who does Johnny refuse to see at the hospital?

3. What is one of the things Ponyboy reads while confined to his bed?

4. Why can't Ponyboy speak when he hears of Johnny's condition?

5. Who is the first person to be questioned at the hearing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why won't Cherry go see Johnny in the hospital?

2. What does Randy tell Ponyboy when he asks to talk to him alone?

3. How does Dally get to the rumble?

4. Why does Ponyboy have to write a semester theme?

5. Why doesn't Darry want Ponyboy to fight in the rumble?

6. What makes Ponyboy realize that Johnny is dying?

7. What happens when the police pull Dally and Ponyboy over as they are on the way to the hospital?

8. What do the newspaper articles say about Ponyboy?

9. What does Ponyboy do to pass the time while he is bedridden?

10. Explain how Dally dies.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain how The Outsiders can be considered a "coming of age" story. How do the main characters mature?

Essay Topic 2

Examine Dally as the hero or martyr of the novel. What heroic behaviors does he display? Why do the younger boys look up to him? What can they learn from his life?

Essay Topic 3

Explain how symbols are used in the novel. Specifically: What does the sunset symbolize? The vacant lot? What about the different books and poems Ponyboy reads?

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