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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. Shawn especially enjoys interacting with Becky when she places him where every day?

2. What happens when Shawn awakens from a seizure?

3. What control does Shawn have over his body?

4. Why does the school district send out a school psychologist each year?

5. What happens in Chapter 7 when Shawn and his father are right in front of the camera?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Shawn describe his father?

2. What movements does Shawn's body make and what controls them?

3. What is Shawn able to do when his spirit leaves his body during a seizure?

4. How does Sydney McDaniel support his argument that schools waste money educating the ineducable?

5. Describe what the special education class at Shoreline High School is like according to Shawn, and how the students behave.

6. What kinds of things is Shawn able to remember using his gift?

7. Why does Shawn say that he has looked into death's eyes?

8. What does Lindy say to her friend Connie about her feelings toward Sydney's abandonment of the family?

9. How much control does Shawn have over his seizures?

10. What does Shawn's father throw at the crow, and does he hit or miss its target?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Shawn remembers when he was four and his father attempts to feed him. Shawn's coughs food onto his father's face. He complains to his wife about how hard it is to deal with Shawn's disabilities. How does this incident typify Sydney McDaniel's reaction to Shawn's disabilities? Identify how often in his life has Shawn's father has fed him. According to Sydney, his anger during this incident is directed at what or whom? Why? When Sydney says he "can't do this any more." To what is he referring? Is Sydney's reaction to Shawn's disabilities valid or logical? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Shawn states that he does not like it when people are called "special." Write about at least two characters who can be considered "special" in Stuck in Neutral.

Part 1) What does Shawn mean by "special," who is considered "special," and in what way are there characters in Stuck in Neutral considered special?

Part 2) How does Shawn's attitude and the attitude of others about being considered "special" add tension to the plot?

Essay Topic 3

The theme of quality of life is central to Stuck in Neutral. Shawn is considered by some to have the life and awareness of a vegetable.

Part 1) How does Shawn first misinterpret this concept? What does it really mean? Who thinks that Shawn is a vegetable? Are they correct? Why or why not? How do the concepts of being a vegetable being famous, or being productive relate to "quality of life?" How does the concept of being productive relate?

Part 2) Shawn describes how his father enjoys life and how he is productive. Are these things that Shawn can aspire to doing as well? How might the inability to do these things cause Shawn's father and others to judge Shawn's quality of life? Does Shawn agree with them? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,255 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample