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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 position does Compton have in the Civil War?

2. What is the neighborhood at the top of the hill from Gunnar's neighborhood?

3. Where does Coach Shimimoto learn to play basketball?

4. What do the Gun Totin' Hooligans do to avenge Pumpkin?

5. What is the name of the neighborhood to which Gunnar and his family have moved?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is at the top of the hill from Gunnar's neighborhood?

2. What kind of work does Ludwig do and what may he unintentionally have done?

3. With whom has Gunnar become friends in the three years in his new neighborhood and why can he walk unafraid there? What is one of the disadvantages of one of his friends?

4. What does Gunnar say his ancestors were like and what is his family situation in Chapter 1? Where does his mother work and what does she tell the children?

5. How does Gunnar feel about organized basketball and why? What changes for Nick and Gunnar because of basketball and how do they deal with the change?

6. How does Nick help Gunnar fit into the neighborhood better and how does Gunnar get a basketball?

7. What does Gunnar do when he returns to class following his health examination?

8. What is Swen Kaufman's life story, according to Gunnar's mother?

9. What does Psycho do to get Gunnar to dance and how does their time at dances often end?

10. What does Gunnar think about his school's emphasis and what does he say contradicts the school's sensitivity?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gunnar is momentarily angered that Nick and the man are talking about Gunnar's poetry, but thinking of his poetry at a time when he is so upset makes Gunnar realize that his poetry serves the same function as Psycho Loco's violence. Gunnar uses poetry to help him cope with external events, and Psycho Loco uses violence for the same reason.

1. How do you think poetry helps Gunnar cope with external events? Use examples from The White Boy Shuffle and your own life to support your answer.

2. How do you think violence helps Psycho Loco cope with external events? Use examples from The White Boy Shuffle and your own life to support your answer.

3. Discuss how two such different activities as writing poetry and committing violence could serve the same function. Use examples from The White Boy Shuffle and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Setting as far as place and time play an important role in The White Boy Shuffle. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast several aspects of the setting of that time, 1992 from how it would be today. Consider things such as cultural norms/expectations, technology, religion and medicine.

2. Do you think The White Boy Shuffle would be different if it were set in Europe? Consider the cultural differences as you discuss the way the story would change is set in the Europe.

3. Discuss some of the differences between the Los Angeles and Boston, as far as the relationship between blacks and whites. What are some similarities?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Do you think racism still exists in the United States? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Discuss in depth several things that you can do in your own life to help stop prejudice against any group of people. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. According to the hate crime law any person harming another person and the primary motivation is prejudice or hatred that crime is more serious than the same act against a person that does not have that motivation. Do you think this is a good law? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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