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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 color uniform does Mam wear when she works for the narrator's family?

2. Where was Martin Heidegger from?

3. What ship's name is printed on Mr. Spiro's duffel bag in Chapter 15?

4. Why does the coach call off ball practice in Chapter 13?

5. What does Little Man observe Mam doing for the first time when they are riding the bus in the end of Chapter 16?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is noteworthy about Mam's appearance when she returns to work in Chapter 9?

2. How does Little Man describe Ara T's hideout in Chapter 10?

3. How does Mam respond to the situation in Little Man's bedroom in Chapter 16?

4. What is significant about the abandoned ladder against the house in Chapter 13?

5. What conflict occurs when Little Man goes to pick up his newspapers for the day in Chapter 13? How is the conflict resolved?

6. Why does Little Man have to lie in order to get the photographer to take a picture of him and Mam at the zoo? What does Little Man tell the photo booth operator?

7. What does Little Man ask Mam as they ride the bus home from church in Chapter 11? Why is this question significant?

8. Why does Little Man disobey Mam in Chapter 16? What does he do to disobey her?

9. What does Little Man find when he goes for collection at Mrs. Worthington's home in Chapter 14?

10. How does Mrs. Worthington behave when Little Man comes to collect money for the paper in Chapter 9?

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

Discuss the narrative style of Paperboy. From whose perspective is the story related? Why do you think the author chose to employ this narrative style? How would the story differ if it were related from a different perspective?

Essay Topic 3

What are Mam's actions, objectives, and obstacles when she sets out from Little Man's home after discovering the theft from his bedroom? What instructions does she give to Little Man? Why?

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