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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. On September 5, what is Paul doing when Erik arrives home with Arthur?

2. What did Joey do when his brother died?

3. What does Mr. Costello do when Erik and Mr. Fisher come home?

4. How does Mike Costello die?

5. What are Paul and Mrs. Fisher shown the school uses for classrooms?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Paul's mother think will happen about Mike's death and what actually happens? What does Paul wonder about Joey?

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

3. What does Paul's mother do about Mike's death?

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

5. What does Paul hear Arthur and Erik saying about Mike Costello?

6. Who comes by the house from the Owners' Association, who is his son and what happens when Paul's father returns home?

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

8. What boy Paul's age does Paul meet and what does he see while Paul watches soccer practice?

9. What does Paul find out about the problem in question #3?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think Tangerine is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 2

Paul is caught up in a memory and he recalls a boy Erik's age asking why Paul wore such thick glasses. Erik explained that Paul had stared at an eclipse and that it had damaged his eyesight, prompting the other boy to call Paul "Eclipse Boy."

1. Do you think it was rude to ask Paul about his glasses or was it good for the boy to be honest about his curiosity? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Knowing that Erik caused Paul's blindness, what kind of internal conflict do you think Erik lying about the cause might be happening inside Erik? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. The boy calls Paul "Eclipse Boy" after hearing Erik's explanation. Why do you think a person feels a need to degrade someone or make someone feel different or inferior? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

When Paul is teased by Victor and the others, he comes back with replies of his own that make it clear that he isn't offended by their teasing. This makes him immediately accepted. Paul hopes to change his situation with the move to Tangerine and sets out with the attitude that he has to prove himself. For example, he is willing to play second-string on the soccer team until he makes that difference.

1. Discuss Paul's response to teasing and why it is a mature response. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. In what ways do you think Paul is trying to prove himself to the other children besides being a good sport about teasing? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Compare Paul's willingness to play second string on the soccer team to Erik's attitude towards being on the football team. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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