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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 weapon does Biff bring to the fight?

2. What kind of story is "Rumble Fish?"

3. Who shuffles papers as if Rusty-James is wasting his time?

4. What does Rusty-James do the morning after he has gone to the lake with Smokey?

5. What information does Patty tell Rusty-James she knows?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is implied by the fact that Motorcycle Boy has not always been color blind?

2. What does Rusty-James do to make sure he is taken to the hospital by the police?

3. What is important about Steve's behavior in the city in Chapter 7?

4. Why does Steve worry about everyone coming to witness the fight between Rusty-James and Biff?

5. Why is Motorcycle Boy hard of hearing and color blind?

6. Why is it important for Rusty-James to be with crowds of people?

7. Why does Rusty-James not understand that Patty is mad that he fooed around with another girl at the lake?

8. What is important about the river?

9. What does Rusty-James think about Biff's declaration that he is going to kill him?

10. Why does Motorcycle Boy tell Rusty-James not to tell anyone that a famous photographer took his picture?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain why, and how, Rusty-James succeeds in reaching his goal of becoming like his brother, Motorcycle Boy, by novel's end. Find descriptions from the text to support your answer and to provide evidence for your opinion.

Essay Topic 2

Abuse and neglect is very much a part of "Rumble Fish." Compare and contrast how Rusty-James and Steve each react to the abuse and neglect they incur on the part of their parents, people who are charged with taking care of them. Find descriptions from the text to support your answer and to provide evidence for your opinion.

Essay Topic 3

Rusty-James and Steve are best friends. Compare and contrast how each character reacts to violence and living in the neighborhood.

Part 1) Compare how Rusty-James and Steve react to violence and living in the poverty-stricken neighborhood.

Part 2) Contrast how Rusty-James and Steve behave at the at the fight with Biff.

Find descriptions from the text to support your answer and to provide evidence for your opinion.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 638 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample