View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the Old Man do trying to get a glimpse of the new family that moves in next door?

2. What happens during the Old Man's favorite ride at the fair?

3. What name does the narrator give his "weapon"?

4. What is the Old Man's absolute favorite ride at the County Fair?

5. Where do most kids get their tops from?

Short Essay Questions

1. During their road trip, the narrator is convinced that he left his fishing gear back home. What does he discover about his gear at the end of the story?

2. Where do the Bumpuses make their illegal liquor?

3. Describe the yard of the Bumpus family.

4. Summarize how Mother prepares the traditional Easter ham.

5. How does the Old Man feel towards the Bumpus family?

6. How does the narrator trick Farkas into challenging him to a battle of spinning tops?

7. Which member of the narrator's family seems to be the most excited at the County Fair?

8. Describe the race that the Old Man and the narrator watch at the County Fair.

9. Describe the Shepherd family's arrival at Ollie Hopnoodle's resort in Clear Lake.

10. Describe some of what makes the Shepherd family a traditional one.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Using examples from the book, explain how the narrator benefits when he applies, or engages in, the following:

a. Self-discipline

b. Family traditions

c. Challenging the status quo

Essay Topic 2

As a young person, the narrator spends a great deal of time living in his world of daydreams and imagination. How does the reality of his life compare to the world of his imagination? How do his daydreams serve him when reality is full of disappointments?

Essay Topic 3

Explain how the author uses the following literary tools to make a point or accentuate the humorous and ridiculous aspects of a situation:

a. exaggeration

b. contrast

Cite at least two examples from the book to support your explanations.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,015 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample