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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. Reese goes to jail for

2. What does the school require for the Cappadoras to pick up Ben?

3. During her day spent with Sam, Beth begins to understandto

4. Why was Cecil's mother unaware that Cecil had someone else's child?

5. How does Vincent reveal his true heart to Ben?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Reese refer to the celebration of Ben's return as a "manger scene?"

2. How did the FBI botch the job when they were involved in the search for Ben?

3. What does the court order in terms of custody of Ben/Sam? Why?

4. What effect does seeing Ben have on Beth? Why?

5. Why will Cecil Lockhart not have to pay a price for having kidnapped Ben?

6. What is a clue that Sam is going downhill living with the Cappadoras?

7. How would you describe the ending of this story? Is it happy? Is the story a tragedy?

8. What is the most astonishing thing about the Cappadoras finding Ben?

9. What small detail of Ben's disappearance does Reese finally discuss in words with Dr. Kilgore?

10. What was it that prompted Cecil to kidnap Ben?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Do a careful reading of the story's preface, wherein Beth looks back at the incident that changed her life forever. She encapsulates what the story will reveal about her state of mind; analyze her decisions, her behavior and her choices in response to Ben's absence.

Essay Topic 2

Pretend you are a psychologist. Make a list of the traits displayed by Beth Cappadora. Go on the Internet and gain a cursory understanding of them, and write an essay describing her character and what her childhood may have been like. Draw a conclusion as to what you believe is her basic, underlying psychological problem.

Essay Topic 3

How much influence do you believe television, movies and video games have on teenagers? Do you think kids are more apt to try stunts like Reese's explosions when they have been exposed to these things? Support your answers with evidence.

(see the answer keys)

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