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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. When Al Ulbrickson addressed the sophomore crew members at the University of Washington in Part 2: Resiliency, Chapter 8, he told them they were not to eat what?

2. What was the name of Joe's aunt that he was sent to live with after his mother died?

3. What was the name of the family that Joe's father took Joe to live with near the Hama Hama Logging Company in 1924?

4. When was Franklin D. Roosevelt inaugurated as President of the United States?

5. What word from the narrative refers to a boat race?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Harry Rantz described in Part 1: What Seasons They Have Been Through, Chapter 2? What were Harry's ambitions?

2. What irony and symbolism can be seen in the performance of the Washington crew as they prepared for Poughkeepsie in Part 2: Resiliency, Chapter 7?

3. How is George Pocock's childhood described in Part 1: What Seasons They Have Been Through, Chapter 3? How did Pocock become involved with boats?

4. How is the theme of "finding value in the discarded" illustrated by the author in Part 2: Resiliency, Chapter 8?

5. What were the crew standings like in October of 1933 at the University of Washington? How many boys were still vying for spots on the top boats?

6. How is the setting of Seattle described in 1933 in Part 1: What Seasons They Have Been Through, Chapter 1?

7. How does the author describe Joe Rantz's status at the University of Washington in Part 1: What Seasons They Have Been Through, Chapter 1?

8. What led up to Joe Rantz's abandonment by his father in Part 1: What Seasons They Have Been Through, Chapter 2?

9. How would you describe the language style of Daniel James Brown? What aspects of the author's style stand out in Part 1: What Seasons They Have Been Through, Chapter 1?

10. What event led to the Rantz family moving to Idaho in Part 1: What Seasons They Have Been Through, Chapter 2? How did Joe like Idaho?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the career of Ky Ebright. Where did Ebright attend college and row competitively before taking his position at the University of California at Berkeley? What were Ebright’s strengths as a coach? What relationship did Ebright have with the University of Washington?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the childhood of Joe Rantz and discuss how Joe’s childhood influenced his rowing career. Do you think Joe would have made it as far as he did in life without having such a troubled upbringing? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author’s portrayal of Nazi Germany in The Boys in the Boat. Is the author’s depiction of the country positive or negative? Is the portrayal historically accurate? How effective do you think the author is at developing the atmosphere of Nazi Germany?

(see the answer keys)

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