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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. How old is Jessie when he is put on the ship?

2. What does Spark touch for good luck?

3. How many homes were destroyed by the fire Jessie saw when he was little?

4. What animal does Jessie think Purvis resembles?

5. Where is Purvis originally from?

Short Essay Questions

1. What joke does Purvis play on Jessie as they are going to bed?

2. What happened to Spark when the ship changed course?

3. What surprises Jessie when he returns to his home in New Orleans?

4. What does the Captain give Jessie for guessing about the contents of the chest?

5. What were the slaves fed when they first came on the ship and what was their reaction?

6. What does the crew have to do after the slaves' shackles are removed?

7. What does Stout try to do to make Jessie feel better after Purvis's punishment, and how is this received?

8. How does Jessie feel about the men who bring the slaves to the ship?

9. What is Purvis punished for, and how harsh is his punishment?

10. What does Ben teach Jessie about the pin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Protection is a strong theme in this story. Where does this theme appear, and which characters are most affected by the presence of this theme?

Essay Topic 2

Paula Fox presents the idea that there are two sides to every man. Choose three of the characters from the book and write about their dual natures and how this duality affected the characters around them.

Essay Topic 3

Compassion and empathy is a theme present in a number of places in the plot. What are some of the best examples of this theme, and how did the presence of this theme affect the outcome of this book?

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This section contains 684 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample