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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. After sharing her painful story with Moby, what does Sarah Byrnes do?

2. Why did Sarah Byrnes refuse to write an expose on the person Dale suggested for his first article?

3. What kind of car is Ellerby's vehicle?

4. When Jody asks Moby to meet her after he finishes swim practice, where do they agree to meet?

5. In Dale's opinion, what is the very worst thing to be called by someone else?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the deal regarding musical equipment that Moby and his mother have?

2. What is the main reason that Moby does not let people get close to him?

3. As the story opens, how does the narrator describe his mother?

4. Why does Ms. Lemry say she'll sign Mark's drop card, but refuse to sign Jody's drop card?

5. According to Moby, why were he and Sarah Byrnes able to produce such a high-quality publication in junior high school when they published "Crispy Pork Rinds"?

6. How does Moby describe his high school principal?

7. Before visiting his friend in the hospital, how long had it been since the narrator had been on the psychiatric unit and why had he been there?

8. Describe the only time that Moby's mother had ever laid a hand on her son.

9. What does the tattoo on Dale Thornton's forearm say?

10. When Moby returns to his desk after Jody and Mark decide to remain in the CAT class, Moby finds a note waiting for him. Who is the note from and what does it say?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Parental and authority figures play a crucial role in shaping the young people they are in contact with. Identify at least three parental and/or authority figures in the story. For each character identified, discuss who and how the parental/authority figure affects the story's main characters, as well as the character's overall impact on the story's plot. Finally, determine if the parental/authority figure was a good or bad role model and why. Use examples from the story to support your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

Identify the main desires of Mr. Byrnes. What does he hope to gain by abusing his daughter and harming Moby? For each desire, tell Mr. Byrnes' reasoning behind the desire and what he ultimately hoped to accomplish through his actions.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Ellerby's father with Mark Brittain's father.

a. How are the two characters similar? How are they different?

b. Compare the role that justice plays in each of their lives. How is each character affected by the concept of justice - both positively and negatively?

(see the answer keys)

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