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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. How did Mrs. Russell react when she saw what the cops found in the park?

2. What was Jake worried about after his dream?

3. What did Mrs. Russell say could have brought the find to the park?

4. What happened when Jake was about to give his book report?

5. How does Mrs. Russell treat Skelly?

Short Essay Questions

1. What problem did Jake have with his book report, and how did his teacher response?

2. What were the police doing in the park as part of their search for Skelly?

3. Why had the police officer come so early in the morning, and what did he bring with him?

4. What had happened to Skelly?

5. Why where the family members celebrating when the policeman came back from exploring the park, and why was it somewhat odd?

6. What did Jake think of the book he had to read for class?

7. What surprised the family about the segment on the evening news?

8. What kind of relationship did Jake and James have with each other? How did it manifest itself at the dinner table?

9. How did Jake spend the day when the police were looking in the park?

10. What happened to Jake at school in regard to his book report?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the inner conflict Jake struggles with as he remembers the old Skelly yet has to deal with the Alzheimer's afflicted Skelly.

Essay Topic 2

The author puts a lot of emphasis on the importance of a name. Using examples from the book, describe what Jake's name meant to him, how Skelly got his name, and how Skelly changed a young boy's life by giving him a strong nickname.

Essay Topic 3

Describe Skelly's character in great detail as he was before Alzheimer's hit him.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 723 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample