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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. Why does the prince say he is following Jemmy in Chapter 19?

2. What does Betsy think the Hot-Potato Man's horses need?

3. What does the Hot-Potato Man offer the boys in Chapter 18?

4. What title does Petunia receive from the king?

5. What name do the boys hear being called in Chapter 14?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Jemmy start collecting driftwood?

2. Why does Petunia attack the outlaws?

3. Why do the boys want to stay out of the left side of the sewers?

4. What changes do the outlaws make in their ransom note delivery plan in Chapter 12?

5. Why do the outlaws think the prince is refusing to deliver the ransom note?

6. How does the prince feel about the boys' adventure in the forest?

7. Why do the outlaws whip Prince Brat?

8. Why does Jemmy dismiss himself from the prince's service?

9. Who do Jemmy and the prince meet in the forest after they get away from Cutwater in Chapter 14?

10. Why does Jemmy hide in the pile of potatoes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Prince Brat and Jemmy both discuss their relationships with their fathers. Describe both Prince Brat's and Jemmy's relationships with their fathers. How are the relationships similar? How are the relationships the different? How do these father/son relationships influence the prince and Jemmy? How do the relationships affect the story's plot?

Essay Topic 2

Each chapter in "The Whipping Boy" has a different title that reflects the events of that specific chapter. Choose three chapter titles and explain how each title is appropriate for that chapter's events. How does the chapter's title tell the reader what might happen without giving too much information? For each chapter chosen, write an alternate chapter that explains the events without providing too much information.

Essay Topic 3

Prince Brat experiences many "firsts" in the story as a result of his sheltered life in the castle. Identify and explain the various firsts that Prince Brat experiences throughout the story. How does encountering these firsts affect the prince's character? How is his experience of these firsts different from that of other characters that encountered these events? How does the prince handle each first? Be sure to use specific examples from the story in the response.

(see the answer keys)

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