View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Basketball Rule #7," the narrator says, "Rebounding is the art of" what?

2. In a simile in the poem "The Nosebleed Section," the narrator describes his mother popping up like what in the stands?

3. How many seconds are left to go in the game when the coach calls time-out in "For Dad"?

4. At what time is the last message from Vondie posted in "Text Messages from Vondie"?

5. What does Josh say Uncle Bob's turkey tastes like in "Santa Claus Stops By"?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Why does Josh say JB hates basketball in "Myocardial Infarction"?

5. How are the Christmas celebrations described in "Santa Claus Stops By"?

6. What are some of the reasons that Josh lists in "Mom, Since You Asked, I’ll Tell You Why I’m So Angry"?

7. What is the focus and meaning of "Basketball Rule #7"?

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

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

10. What actions are described regarding Chuck in "On Christmas Eve"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and analyze the character of Josh Bell in The Crossover. How old is Josh? What are his likes and dislikes? What relationships does Josh form and/or share with the other characters in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the symbolism of Josh's dreadlocks in The Crossover. What reasons does Josh give for having dreadlocks? What does it signify when his dreadlocks are cut off? Who cuts them off?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 724 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample