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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. In one line from the poem "Mom, Since You Asked, I'll Tell You Why I'm So Angry," Josh says, "Because the only thing that matters is" what?

2. What is the court described as doing in the poem "The Last Shot"?

3. What does Vondie's girlfriend want to be when she grows up, according to the narrator in "Even Vondie"?

4. Where does Josh describe volunteering in "This Week, I"?

5. At what time is the first message posted in "Text Messages from Vondie"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some of the questions that appear in the poem "Questions" in "Fourth Quarter"?

2. What news is related in the poem "Article #1 in the Daily News (December 14)"?

3. Why does Josh say JB hates basketball in "Myocardial Infarction"?

4. What stylistic elements stand out in the poem "Fast Break"?

5. How is "Churlish" defined in the poem with the same name? How does Josh apply this term to his life?

6. What does Josh ask his father in "Okay, Dad'? What ultimatum does he make?

7. What does Josh's mother say happens to "boys with no self-control" (138) in "Suspension"? What does she mean by this statement?

8. What information is related in "Text Messages from Vondie"?

9. What character is compared to a storm in the poem "Storm"? How does the author make this comparison?

10. What is the focus and meaning of "Basketball Rule #7"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the characters of Josh and JB in The Crossover. How are these twin brothers similar? How are they different? What causes the conflicts between these characters?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss the character of Crystal Bell in The Crossover. What is Crystal's profession? How would you describe her relationships with the main characters in the story? What transformation does Crystal undergo in The Crossover?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the style of the poems in The Crossover. Does the author employ rhyme and meter throughout the poems? What are examples of similes, metaphors, and other literary devices employed in the poems?

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