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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. Where does Wolfgang have a job?

2. What are Gunnar and his sisters told when others arrive at the park?

3. What must Gunnar do in school during Black History Month?

4. For what is Swen Kaufman known?

5. In what subject is Nick Scoby most interested?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is one of Gunnar's favorite past times from a young age and what is he known for among his friends?

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

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

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

7. Where have Gunnar and his family moved and what kind of neighborhood is it?

8. What does Wolfgang Kaufman do in Nashville and why does he move to Chicago? What does he do in Chicago?

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

10. Where does Gunnar's father work, what does he do and what does Gunnar notice when he visits his father at work?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think The White Boy Shuffle is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think it is important that The White Boy Shuffle was written? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think The White Boy Shuffle did what the author set out to do? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Explain why you might or might not read another book by this author about another black person. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,190 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample