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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. What does Paul realize when he watches the Middle School soccer practice?

2. How does Paul find out he cannot play soccer?

3. What does Paul say he would be sad about if Erik dies?

4. Who is Erik starting to hang out with?

5. What did Joey do when his brother died?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Paul and his mother learn about muck fires, and what happens when a thunderstorm hits?

2. What is Paul's mother's response about him being kicked off the soccer team?

3. What memory does Paul recall when he starts school on Monday?

4. What does Paul think about if Erik died?

5. What does Paul think about Arthur and Erik are saying about Mike?

6. Why is Paul put off the soccer team and what is his reaction when he hears about it?

7. How do Paul and his mother arrive in Florida, and what does Paul's father say when they arrive?

8. What news does Erik tell Paul and Mrs. Fisher when Erik comes home from school on Tuesday?

9. To what does Paul wake on August 9, who does he tell and what does she say to him? What do they do about the problem?

10. What changes in Tangerine does Paul foresee and what does he think about himself and changes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in Tangerine. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in Tangerine. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in Tangerine. Consider the death of Mike as an random act of nature and the death of Luis as the result of conscious violence. Consider also in your answer the death of innocence in Paul from the beginning of the book to the end.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Tangerine, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in Tangerine. (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and sometimes it is the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Tangerine has? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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