View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What kind of trip did Frank take the day before he and Vicki left on their trip?

2. What is the football player full of, due to what happened to him?

3. What type of illness prevented Frank from going to Vietnam?

4. What does Frank try to do to Vicki when he returns from the interview in Detroit?

5. Who or what was ultimately responsible for ending Frank's marriage?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Frank go through Vicki's purse?

2. Frank returns to the hotel in Detroit after the interview to find Vicki depressed. Why is Vicki depressed?

3. What is the Divorced Men Club?

4. How is Frank's desire to both be a part of his family again and to allow his ex-wife to go on with her life without him evident?

5. Why is Frank traveling to Detroit in Chapter 2?

6. How has the death of their son Ralph taken a big toll on Frank and X?

7. Does Frank think X can go on with her life without getting married?

8. What happens when Frank arrives to pick Vicki up to go with him on the trip to Detroit in Chapter 2?

9. What has become a ritual for Frank and X?

10. Why do Frank and Vicki decide to leave Detroit early?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ralph's death from Reye's Syndrome caused a big shake up in the lives of Ralph's family, eventually even leading to divorce. How can Ralph's death be viewed as a foreshadowing event for both Frank and X? Be sure to include details and examples from the story to defend your answer.

Essay Topic 2

X feels bad and goes to meet Frank at the police station. X agrees to go to Walter's apartment with Frank because she is supportive of Frank at this time and wants to show sympathy. How does the theme of sympathy get portrayed in how X treats Frank? Give details and examples from the story to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout "The Sportswriter," there are many friendships that are established. Pick one friendship that is established and explain what characteristics makes this friendship specifically between the two friends mentioned. Students can choose from Vicki and Frank, Selma and Frank, X's father-in-law and Frank, Walter and Frank or any pair of characters from the story.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 788 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample