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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 does Rusty-James think the picture of Motorcycle Boy resembles?

2. Where is Rusty-James' apartment?

3. Why does Patty say she is angry with Rusty-James?

4. When Patty breaks up with Rusty-James, what happens to his chest?

5. Where is Rusty-James at the onset of the novel?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Motorcycle Boy's comment, "it looks like Rusty-James is always messed up, one way or the other," surprise Rusty-James?

2. Why does Rusty-James not tell people that his father used to be a lawyer?

3. What is the importance of delaying the appearance of Motorcycle Boy until the third chapter?

4. How do the type of classes Rusty-James has in school impact his character?

5. What does Rusty-James' bad grammar and slang tell the reader about his character?

6. Why does Rusty-James leave at midnight to go out with Smokey and his cousin?

7. Why does Steve think people in the neighborhood will have a heart attack if Rusty-James goes home?

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

9. What does Rusty-James' father do when he gets home in Chapter 5?

10. Why does it take Rusty-James longer than he thought to forget about Motorcycle Boy's death?

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

Interpret the meaning of Motorcycle Boy's comment that he "never crossed the river" when asked if he saw the ocean in California. How does this exemplify the Motorcycle Boy's life choices? Find descriptions from the text to support your answer and to provide evidence for your opinion.

Essay Topic 3

What is the importance of Rusty-James' knife scar? Why is this an important detail about his character? Find descriptions from the text to support your answer and to provide evidence for your opinion.

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This section contains 609 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample