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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 long has it been in Chapter 39 since Hog's wife died?

2. What time is Johnny home for dinner in Chapter 32?

3. In Chapter 12, how is Tails injured when he tries to take down the flags?

4. Where does Matteo hurt as he sits in the ditch in Chapter 11?

5. Where did Maya Andersson go when she moved from Beartown?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the difference between how Johnny became a fireman and how fireman are recruited now?

2. Why does Johnny go to the scrapyard in Chapter 49?

3. Why does Tails drive Mumble home to Hed?

4. How was it decided that money would be spent on the ice rink in Bearktown and not in Hed?

5. What is the "Fund" at the Bearskin Pub?

6. In Chapter 17, why does Kira remember that Tails and four other businessmen from Beartown visited her?

7. Why does Peter call Teemu after Lev contacts him in Chapter 36?

8. What messages do Tess, Tobias, and Ted receive on their phones in Chapter 32?

9. How did Amat injure himself that led to his drinking and taking pills in Chapter 29?

10. Why does the man who runs the funeral parlor in Beartown come to see Lev?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A cliché is a trite phrase or expression that is often overused. Why does Amat believe that locker rooms are cliché factories (160)? Why are the clichés annoying rather than reassuring?

Essay Topic 2

Humor is a literary device that amuses readers or makes readers laugh. How does Backman use humor in The Winners? How does it help break up the tension in various scenes?

Essay Topic 3

Juxtaposition is a literary device used to compare and contrast things. How does Backman use juxtaposition to show the differences between Patina’s old and new life? How does Backman use juxtaposition to compare and contrast Hed and Beartown and the people who live in those towns?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,031 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample