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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. The narrator states in the beginning of Part One that the Avenger “did not know [the home invaders’] names, had never seen them before, but he knew who they were. They were regular kids, not sleazies from” where?

2. Buddy’s mother is described in Part One as working five days a week in what position in Wickburg?

3. What does Jane tell her friends people call Mickey Stallings behind his back in Part One?

4. What is the name of Jane and Karen’s mother in the novel?

5. What afternoon snack does the Avenger share with his mother when he arrives home after killing the school bully in Part One?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the relationship between Buddy Walker and Jane Jerome begin in Part Two?

2. What is significant about the setting of We All Fall Down in relation to the central topics addressed in the novel?

3. What news does Buddy receive when he arrives at school in the opening of Part Two?

4. How does the narrator describe Jane’s school friends in Part One? What color unites these girls?

5. What are the central questions that arise in the plot of We All Fall Down? How do these questions relate to the novel’s themes?

6. Why is Jane Jerome upset when the narrative switches to her storyline in the beginning of Part One?

7. What are the central societal issues faced by the main characters in We All Fall Down?

8. What happens when Buddy’s sister confronts him about his drinking in Part One?

9. When, precisely, do the vandals break into the Jerome home in the beginning of Part One? Who encounters them as they are vandalizing the house?

10. How does the author effectively draw the reader into the story in Part One?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the clues in the narrative that identify the setting of We All Fall Down. What popular culture references in Part One indicate approximately what year the story takes place in? Where in the country does the story appear to be set? What holiday is it when the home invasion takes place? How do you relate to this setting?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Buddy’s concerns regarding the arrest of Harry Flowers. Why does Buddy have a hard time believing Marty and Randy regarding Harry’s past and his loyalty to his friends? What would you feel like if you were in Buddy’s position? What options does Buddy have in terms of acting to protect himself?

Essay Topic 3

Family in We All Fall Down

a. Discuss the differences and similarities between Buddy’s family and Jane’s family in the novel. In what ways do these families differ in their communication style and shows of affection for one another?

b. How do the story’s main characters evolve in their perceptions of family throughout the course of the narrative?

(see the answer keys)

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