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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 state is Mam from originally?

2. What issue does Little Man have with his knife in Chapter 2?

3. What color hair does Mrs. Worthington have?

4. Where was Rat trying to ride his bike down concrete steps when he incurred his scar, according to Little Man in Chapter 8?

5. What is the name of the town where Mam grew up?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Little Man discover on his birth certificate in Chapter 7? How does he respond to this information?

2. What role does Mam serve in Little Man's life? How would you describe the relationship between Mam and Little Man?

3. Who is Ara T? Why does Little Man give his pocket knife to Ara T in Chapter 3?

4. What plans does Little Man make with his father in Chapter 8? What becomes of the plans?

5. What is foreshadowed by Little Man's observance of Big Sack watching him from the alley in Chapter 8?

6. How are Little Man's athletic and academic achievements described in Chapter 1?

7. What does Little Man overhear his parents talking about after coming home from the restaurant in Chapter 7? What does he make of this conversation?

8. What are Little Man's first impressions of Mrs. Worthington? How does he meet Mrs. Worthington?

9. Who is Big Sack? What is this character's relationship to Little Man?

10. What is the second "clue" that Mr. Spiro gives to Little Man in Chapter 5? What does Little Man make of the clue?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Little Man lose his yellow-handled knife? Why is it so important for Little Man to get his knife back? Whose help does Little Man elicit in retrieving his knife?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the setting of Paperboy. In what year does the story take place? In what region does Little Man's family live? What role does the setting of the story play in the plot?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the character of Mr. Spiro in the novel. How does Little Man meet Mr. Spiro? What are Little Man's first impressions of this character? How does Little Man's friendship with Mr. Spiro change him?

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