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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 does JB's girlfriend ask for seconds of at the dinner table in "The Girl Who Stole My Brother"?

2. What does Josh say that JB hates in "Myocardial Infarction"?

3. What is the first line in the poem "Mom, Since You Asked, I'll Tell You Why I'm So Angry"?

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

5. At what hospital is Josh's family in "The Doctor Pats Jordand and Me on the Back and Says"?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Josh point out the irony of the doctor's name in "The Next Morning"?

3. How does the advice in "Basketball Rule #9" apply to life?

4. What is the significance of the repetition of the word "alone" in "I Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Used To"?

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

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

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

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

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

10. What is related of Vondie's girlfriend in "Even Vondie"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the genre of The Crossover. Why do you think the author has chosen to relate this story in the form of a verse novel? How would the novel differ if related in prose? What are the benefits of this style?

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

Analyze and discuss the character of Vondie Little in The Crossover. How do Josh and JB know Vondie? How do their relationships evolve in the course of the narrative? Is Vondie a likable character? Why or why not?

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This section contains 823 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample