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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 finally admits that in the hotel lobby he told little Ben to

2. George Karras appears to be

3. Reese hates the school coach because he

4. Beth begs for Vincent to

5. How are the Cappadoras feeling about Reese now that Ben has returned?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the primary reason for Sam's depression and unhappiness?

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

3. Why did Vincent not mention the kid he thought might be Ben?

4. How does Beth steady herself for photographing scenes?

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

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

7. How does Candy feel about Ben's reappearance?

8. What does the boy who knocks at Beth's door want?

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

10. Is George Karras a monster? How do we know?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Their are many ironic moments in this story. Focus on one ironic event of your own choosing, and write about how the irony is crafted, why it is ironic, and how long it takes to understand the irony as one reads the story.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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