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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 part of Vernon's body does Dr. Oliver Goosens touch for the second time?

2. What is Palmyra's habit to forget to do when he drives to Vernon's house?

3. Who does Vernon introduce to Taylor's mother?

4. Which of the following cities does Vernon tell the customs office he is visiting?

5. What of the following philosophical problems does Vernon speak with Ledesma about?

Short Essay Questions

1. What advice does Vernon's mother give him before the trial?

2. What does Vernon remind himself when he realizes he is in a tough situation?

3. What does Vernon imagine about the TV movie of his life?

4. Why does no boy in town love Ella?

5. How does Vernon get $160 off Deutschman?

6. Why is Vernon's mother angry with Vernon in Chapter 11?

7. What do the police find out about Vernon's sexuality?

8. What does Vernon overhear his mom and her friends talking about?

9. How does Vernon plan to help Silas Benn?

10. What does Vernon think about Jesus?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why are a person's teenage years supposed to be so difficult? How much was Jesus' reaction to the bullying because of his sensitive age? In what way does Vernon's young age become a joke in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the author's writing style. How would you describe the author's prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? What meaning does the author's style give to the story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the book's themes?

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