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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 school has Josh's team just defeated in "Article #1 in the Daily News (December 14)"?

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

3. How are "the unspoken words" described in the poem "After"?

4. What question does Josh ask his coach when the coach asks if he is sure he is able to play in "During Warm-Ups"?

5. What does Josh's father suggest Josh do in regards to JB in "The Nosebleed Section"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Josh ask his father in "Okay, Dad'? What ultimatum does he make?

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

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

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

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

6. How is "Churlish" defined in the poem with the same name? How does Josh apply this term to his life?

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

8. What stylistic elements stand out in the poem "Fast Break"?

9. What does Josh's mother say happens to "boys with no self-control" (138) in "Suspension"? What does she mean by this statement?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Chuck Bell in the novel. How does Chuck feel about his sons? What career did Chuck have? Why did he leave this career? What leads up to Chuck's death?

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

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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