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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. Whom does Steve want Rusty-James to meet?

2. When school lets out, where does Rusty-James wait for Patty?

3. What happens to Rusty-James when he is at Patty's house?

4. Why is Benny upset when the junior high school kids hang out at his place?

5. At what time does Rusty-James wake up when at Patty's house?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 3, what does the apartment reveal about Rusty-James' family?

2. In Chapter 2, with what does Steve try to get Rusty-James to confront and deal?

3. Why does Rusty-James steal hubcaps?

4. What is Rusty-James' driving motivation?

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

6. In Chapter 9, how has Rusty-James' vision of Motorcycle Boy changed since the prior night?

7. Why does Smokey believe he would be president of a gang and Rusty-James would be a lieutenant?

8. What sets Motorcycle Boy apart from the others?

9. Why does Rusty-James dislike Cassandra?

10. What does ordering chocolate milk from the counter at Benny's say about Rusty-James?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the onset of the flashback, gang violence has been all but stopped due to Motorcycle Boy. Rusty-James hangs on to the "rules" and becomes furious when the rules are broken. At the same time, Rusty-James wants to be like Motorcycle Boy. Explain how Rusty-James' actions contradict his goal. 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

Explain how the author's word choices for Rusty-James' dialogue provide authenticity to the novel. Does it endear Rusty-James' to the reader? What does it reveal about the character, his background, and environment? Find descriptions from the text to support your answer and to provide evidence for your opinion.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 634 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample