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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 much money does Little Man give to Ara T in Chapter 3?

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

3. What state is Mam from originally?

4. How old was Little Man when Mam came to live with his family?

5. Who is listed as Little Man's father on his birth certificate?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why is Little Man's real name not revealed in the beginning of the story? How is he referred to in the text?

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

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

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

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

8. What information does Little Man reveal about himself, his friends, and his family in Chapter 1?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Little Man's relationship with his mother. How close are Little Man and his mother? What concerns does Little Man's mother express regarding his speech impediment?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the themes of friendship and connection in Paperboy. With whom is Little Man friends in the beginning of the story? Whom does he befriend on his paper route? How does Little Man's sense of connection change in the course of the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the themes of isolation, embarrassment, and alienation in Paperboy. How are these themes embodied by Little Man? How does Little Man grow and evolve past his isolation in the course of the story?

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