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. Why does Shawn say that he doesn't really have a body?

2. During the last time that Shawn's father feeds him, what happens?

3. How does Shawn interact with his mother while having an out-of-body experience?

4. In the stanza of the poem that opens Chapter 8, what is the main question being asked?

5. At what location does the premiere reading of the poem that was written about Shawn take place?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Shawn think that his father is smart?

2. What is the little ritual that Shawn's father performs every time he visits Shawn?

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

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

5. What does the encounter with the crow reveal to Shawn's father, and what thought occurs to him?

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

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

8. During his last feeding of Shawn, Sydney tells Lindy that he is mad at something other than at Shawn. What is he mad at?

9. When Shawn first heard people referred to as "vegetables," what types of images did he envision in his head?

10. How does Shawn's special gift progress and strengthen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,309 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample