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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, at first, does Gene conclude that Leper has done?

2. Who comes into the room after the commotion between Gene and Leper?

3. What are the boys covered in after doing work by the tracks?

4. Who is ridiculed for wanting to finish school before enlisting?

5. Where do the students go to smoke?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the boys ridicule Quackenbush?

2. What eventually happens when the boys realize what Finny is doing in #49?

3. What does Gene realize about Finny as he is being carried away by the others?

4. What does Gene note when he is making up Finny's bed for him?

5. What was the result of Finny's accident this time?

6. Where is the secret Christmas Location that Leper refers to?

7. What does Gene conclude about Leper's admittance that he escaped?

8. What do the students do when Finny falls down the stairs?

9. What does Brinker say to Gene about his new living situation?

10. What does Finny do during the snowball fight with Gene and the others?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Leper is certainly a compelling character in this novel, causing the reader to be diverted from the stories of Finny and Gene from time to time.

Part 1: Why do you think Leper got his nickname? What does this seem to say about his personality and reputation?

Part 2: Why do you think Leper is a significant character in this story? What is his purpose in the story?

Part 3: Is Leper a sympathetic character? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The perception of the war is one that seems to change during the novel as well as fluctuate from the start to the finish of the novel.

Part 1: List the people in the novel who support the war. How do they show this support?

Part 2: List the people in the novel who do not support the war. How do they show their displeasure?

Part 3: What do you think the boys think of the war in general? Is this a 'good' or a 'bad' war? Support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

While Gene continues to feel upset about Finny's accident, it seems that even though he is 'cleared' of his charges and Finny never seems to blame him, the 'sin' follows him.

Part 1: Do you feel that Gene sinned? Was his bouncing of the branch done out of hatred? Support your answer.

Part 2: Does Gene ever find a sense of redemption? Why or why not?

Part 3: What does Finny's fall represent in this novel? What does it have to say about growing up?

(see the answer keys)

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