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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 "your heart" in the metaphor made by the narrator in "Basketball Rule #1"?

2. What does Josh discover JB doing at the library in "Third Wheel"?

3. Who are the narrator's favorite rappers who have dreadlocks in "Five Reasons I Have Locks"?

4. What does Jordan insist that everyone call him, according to the narrator in "Jordan Bell"?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What differences does Josh describe between him and his brother in "JB and I"?

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

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

5. What conflict is described in "On the Way to the Game"?

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

7. How does Josh's father respond to Josh's concerns about JB in the second poem titled "Conversation" in "Second Quarter"?

8. Why does Josh pretend to be JB on the phone when Alexis first calls? What do Josh and Alexis talk about?

9. How did Josh Bell get his nickname? What is the significance of Josh's nickname?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the meaning of the title of The Crossover? How does Josh define "crossover" in the narrative? How does this term apply both to basketball and to life?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the relationship between Chuck and Crystal Bell in The Crossover. For how long have they been married? Who appears to dominate this relationship? Why?

Essay Topic 3

How does Josh's use of language reflect upon his character? How does Josh's use of language stand apart from the other characters in The Crossover? How is dialogue conveyed in this verse novel?

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