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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 makes Q think Margo is planning a road trip?

2. What does Q find when searching the shelves of the store?

3. What does Dr. Holden tell Q?

4. To what does Q compare Margo?

5. What is Q experiencing at school?

Short Essay Questions

1. What roles do Radar and Lacey assume for the trip to New York?

2. How does Q's dealing with the end of high school give him insight into Margo?

3. What do Q's parents say about humans mirroring each other?

4. Why does Q go to a party when Ben calls him?

5. What transpires the first five hours of their trip?

6. What are Ben and Radar's theories about Margo and how does Q feel when he hears them?

7. Why is Gus at the mini mall and what does he say about Margo?

8. To whom does Q ask about the Walt Whitman poem, "Song of Myself" and what does he learn from the person?

9. What does Q do in the souvenir shop while waiting?

10. What does Q resolve to find on Saturday and how do Q and Radar use what they find?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Paper Towns belongs to the young adult mystery genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the young adult mystery genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young adult mystery and a historical novel?

Essay Topic 2

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Paper Towns and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Paper Towns is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Paper Towns help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Paper Towns? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in Paper Towns to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,183 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample