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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. At what time is the first text message posted in "Text Messages from Mom, Part Two"?

2. What is the first sentence in "The Doctor Pats Jordan and Me on the Back and Says"?

3. What is the second word that extends downward on the page in the poem "Fast Break"?

4. How many people does Josh describe hugging in "Santa Claus Stops By"?

5. What is the court described as doing in the poem "The Last Shot"?

Short Essay Questions

1. How would you describe Josh's attitude at the hospital in "The Doctor Pats Jordan and Me on the Back And Says"?

2. What condition has led to Chuck Bell's hospitalization in "Fourth Quarter"?

3. What are some of the questions that appear in the poem "Questions" in "Fourth Quarter"?

4. How is the word "profusely" explored in the poem that has the same name?

5. What character is compared to a storm in the poem "Storm"? How does the author make this comparison?

6. What information is related in "Text Messages from Vondie"?

7. What news is related in the poem "Article #1 in the Daily News (December 14)"?

8. What is revealed by the phone call in "As We’re About to Leave for the Final Game"? How does the Bell family respond?

9. How would you describe the mood of the poem "After" in "Third Quarter"? How does the author develop this mood?

10. What advice does Josh's father give him regarding JB in "The Nosebleed Section"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Several poems throughout The Crossover are titled "Basketball Rule #." What is the significance of these particular poems? How do these poems stand out stylistically from the others in the verse novel?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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