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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. Which of the following is brought to the celebration of Sooley’s invitation to try out for the South Sudanese national youth team?

2. Which of the following does Murray’s mother lead?

3. With which of the following diseases are James and Chol diagnosed?

4. Which of the following is brought to the celebration of Sooley’s invitation to try out for the South Sudanese national youth team?

5. Which of the following does Murray’s father lead?

Short Essay Questions

1. Britt notes a collection going around for Sooley’s family (144). Why does he say he cannot contribute to it?

2. What does Ecko note to Sooley as “the same basic parts” of a good jump shot (13)?

3. How are the Nukes described?

4. How do Ecko and Britt know one another?

5. What prompts Sooley to leave the reading area at the University of Juba amid his tryouts for the South Sudanese national youth team?

6. What reasons are given for the poor state of bus service in South Sudan?

7. How are Beatrice’s first days in Rhino Camp described?

8. As Sooley settles into his dorm room, what does he do to ease his conscience about being away from his family?

9. By what path does the South Sudanese national youth team travel to the United States?

10. What reasons are given for the difficulty in placing players in high schools?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, Murray’s mother is referred to and addressed as Miss Ida. What significance does the persistence of the title have? How does that significance manifest in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Early on, Ecko muses that “yet another seventeen-year-old was bored with the notion of stretching” (9), and throughout the novel, much is made of the fact that the young players do not spend much time stretching. Explicate the significance of the avoidance of stretching, supporting your ideas from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Sources attest to the presence of Sooley on a number of bestseller lists. Assuming that sales figures reflect popularity, what accounts for the popularity of the novel? How does it do so?

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This section contains 719 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample