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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 is Rat's real name?

2. How does the author denote Little Man's speech struggles in the dialogue sections of the novel?

3. What is the nickname of the boy that has replaced Rat as Little Man's catcher in baseball practice while Rat is away?

4. What punctuation marks does Little Man say he hates in Chapter 1?

5. What word is written on the second piece of the dollar bill that Mr. Spiro gives to Little Man?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Little Man's experience at the restaurant described in Chapter 7?

2. How does Mrs. Worthington appear to Little Man when he sees her on Monday in Chapter 7?

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

4. What are Little Man's first impressions of Mr. Spiro? How is Mr. Spiro described?

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

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

7. How does Little Man say he is relating the story of the stabbing in Chapter 1? Why is he relating the story in this manner?

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

9. What do Little Man and Mr. Spiro discuss when Little Man comes by on Friday for collection in Chapter 5?

10. What is a stutter? How is Little Man's stutter depicted in the narrative of Paperboy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the character of Mam in the novel. How would you describe Little Man's relationship with Mam? What characteristics does Mam exhibit? What are Mam's central objectives in the story?

Essay Topic 2

How does Little Man evolve as a character in the course of the story? What is significant about Little Man telling his mother that he does not like pralines? How does this statement imply growth in Little Man?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the character of Big Sack in the novel. How does Big Sack know Mam? What does Big Sack do for a living? What role does Big Sack play in the plot of the narrative?

(see the answer keys)

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