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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. Why doesn't Compton return home one night?

2. How do some of the children feel about the health exams?

3. Who does Gunnar push on the swings at the park?

4. Who does Gunnar tell the police his Gang of Four plan to fight in a week?

5. What type of social situation does Gunnar hate the most?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Gunnar the morning after they move to a new neighborhood and his mother tells him to go get breakfast?

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

3. What happens when Gunnar meets Nick and some of Nick's friends for lunch?

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

5. Why does Gunnar's mother send her children outside and where do they go? In what kind of condition is the place?

6. With whom does Gunnar make friends during his first semester at his new school and what does he choose in his second semester schedule?

7. Why did Rolf go to a white high school and what happens to him in Vietnam?

8. What happens when Gunnar is pushing his sister Nicole on the swing?

9. Where does Gunnar go to avoid beatings, what does he do there and how does he still get beat?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in The White Boy Shuffle. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of individual freedom in The White Boy Shuffle. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess individual freedom? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of tradition in The White Boy Shuffle. What is Gunnar's view of tradition? Gunnar's mother? Nick's? Gunnar's father. Why is tradition important to some characters? Is anyone willing to abandon traditional viewpoints? Who? What are the positive and negative sides to holding fast to tradition?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in The White Boy Shuffle.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of The White Boy Shuffle. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of The White Boy Shuffle. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 3

The the reader can see the basis for the mother's fears that her children have lost touch with their own heritage. It is possible that the children's elementary school with all of its misguided stress on multiculturalism has helped to separate the children from understanding their true heritage.

1. Do you think Gunnar's mother's fears are unfounded? Why or why not? Use examples from The White Boy Shuffle and your own life to support your answer.

2. Discuss the ways in which such an emphasis on multiculturalism could confuse a child about his or her own heritage. Use examples from The White Boy Shuffle and your own life to support your answer.

3. Do you think it was illogical for Gunnar's mother to move her children to a lower class and potentially more violent neighborhood just so they could be around people of their own race? Why or why not? Use examples from The White Boy Shuffle and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,191 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample