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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 is JB doing while Josh tries to talk to him in "Conversation"?

2. What does JB do when his father appears to be having a stroke in "I'm on Free Throw Number Twenty-Seven"?

3. Who is the only other undefeated team in "At Practice"?

4. What does the narrator's mother compare the narrator with in the poem "Josh Bell"?

5. What does the coach tell the team they need to work on in "At Practice"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Crystal Bell make her husband sit in the top row of the bleachers during basketball games?

2. How are the careers of Josh's parents described in the narrative?

3. What does Coach Hawkins have his team do in "At Practice"? Why?

4. How does Josh define "irony" in "Ironic"? How does he apply irony to his life?

5. What is the rule stated in "Basketball Rule #5"? What is its significance?

6. How does Josh define "Tipping Point" in the poem with the same name?

7. Who is Josh Bell and what role does he play in "The Crossover"?

8. What does Crystal explain to Josh in "Mom Calls Me into the Kitchen"?

9. What metaphors are seen in "Basketball Rule #1"?

10. Why does Josh suggest his father write a book in "Conversation"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Several poems in The Crossover focus on a single word, such as "Irony." What is the significance of these poems? How do these poems explore language thematically? Why do you think the author employs this style?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Josh's feelings about Alexis (Miss Sweet Tea) in the narrative. Why does Josh express jealousy over Alexis? What do you think Alexis represents symbolically in the story? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the characters of Josh and JB in The Crossover. How are these twin brothers similar? How are they different? What causes the conflicts between these characters?

(see the answer keys)

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