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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 scheme does Henry begin while in the Army?

2. What is the first job Henry and his new partner are assigned?

3. What do the wiseguys do when Henry is released from jail?

4. What is the alias that the big boss from the restaurant goes by on the streets?

5. Why does Henry initially go to the cabstand?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Henry choose the cabstand when looking for a part-time job?

2. How does the book describe how the mafia rose in the Brownsville-East New York area?

3. Why does Henry want to become partners with Lenny and what are some of the perks that come along with it?

4. What does Henry ask Karen to do after he beats up her neighbor, and how does she react to this?

5. What is the typical wiseguy like?

6. Discuss some of the schemes that Henry took part in during Chapter 2 before taking part in the gambling ring.

7. Describe why the author, Nicholas Pileggi, decides to write the book from Henry Hill's perspective.

8. Why does Henry decide to enlist in the military?

9. What is the author's intent for writing this book?

10. Why does Henry see Paulie as "invulnerable"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At a very young age, Henry is coerced into committing illegal acts for the wiseguys. In what ways is Henry talked into committing these acts? What is his reaction when he is told to commit them? How are these crimes viewed in the eyes of the mobsters?

Essay Topic 2

Henry joins the wiseguys and begins committing crimes at a very young age. Does his character deserve any sympathy from the reader because of his youth? Is Henry more naive to fall into the wiseguy lifestyle because of his young age? If you do think he deserves sympathy as a child, does he also deserve it as he grows up? Could he help his actions as an adult because of these circumstances?

Essay Topic 3

What purpose does writing Chapter 18 mostly from law enforcement's perspective serve? What new insight does it offer the reader? Does this chapter change the reader's perception of the wiseguys at all? If so, how?

(see the answer keys)

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