View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Willie's father react when he found out that Willie had taken acid?
(a) He is angry and loses control of his anger in a way that Willie had never seen.
(b) He is disappointed and blames himself for Willie's unhappiness.
(c) He blames Willie's friends and refuses to allow Willie to see them again.
(d) He is disappointed, but understands and forgives Willie.

2. When Cyril asks Willie to share, at what part of the story does he want him to begin?
(a) At the beginning, of course.
(b) At the end, and then work backward.
(c) At the middle and then work both ways.
(d) Anywhere he would like to begin.

3. How does Johnny Rivers convince the English teacher to let him tell his joke?
(a) The class is talking about verbal irony, so Johnny's story fits right in.
(b) He tells her that he has been thinking of writing a book and wants help with his idea.
(c) He does not ask; he just begins to tell the story.
(d) He tells her that it is really funny.

4. What does Cyril ask Willie to do if he has any suicidal thoughts?
(a) Cyril wants Willie to call the suicide hotline if he seriously considers suicide.
(b) Cyril wants Willie to tell his parents if he has serious thoughts of suicide.
(c) Cyril wants Willie to call him if his suicidal thoughts get serious.
(d) Cyril wants Willie to see his family doctor if he has suicidal thoughts.

5. Why does Willie take it easy in practice?
(a) He is thinking about his sister and cannot concentrate.
(b) Everyone else on the team is goofing around, so he decides to do the same.
(c) He is not feeling very well and is afraid to push himself too hard.
(d) He needs to save him arm, and the team needs to practice hitting.

6. Why do Willie and his father wear helmets when they ride the motorcycle?
(a) Willie had a friend who was killed in a motorcycle accident, so he always wears his helmet.
(b) The state law requires them to wear helmets, but they wouldn't wear them otherwise.
(c) They only wear them to make Mrs. Weaver happy, and they take them off when they get around the corner.
(d) Willie's father is concerned about safety and requires all riders to wear a helmet.

7. What does Willie take with him when he leaves school?
(a) His cane.
(b) His books.
(c) His tape recorder.
(d) A towel from the locker room.

8. At what point did Willie's mother stop fishing with them?
(a) When Willie's sister was born.
(b) After Willie was born.
(c) When Willie became a teenager.
(d) After the death of Willie's sister.

9. According to Willie, why does Jenny Blackburn always win when they race each other on bicycles?
(a) Her bicycle is newer and has more gears.
(b) She always takes a head start.
(c) She moves the finish line so that she is always the first to cross.
(d) She has longer legs and can pedal faster.

10. Why does Mrs. Weaver blame Big Will for the family's problems?
(a) She blames him for Willie's accident, which is the cause of all of their problems.
(b) She says that he does not talk to anyone, and he does nothing to help the family out.
(c) She is angry because he has started to drink too much.
(d) She criticizes him for working too much and not being around.

11. Why does Willie run in the morning before sunrise?
(a) It is safer for him to run when there are fewer cars on the roads.
(b) He needs to run early so that he is not late for school.
(c) He hopes to run into Jenny while he is out since she runs early, too.
(d) He does not want anyone to see how difficult and awkward running is for him.

12. How does Petey Shropshire manage to get on base as often as he does?
(a) He is small and crouches down so that his strike zone is small, so pitchers walk him.
(b) He is not very powerful, but he is able to hit the ball into the gaps between fielders.
(c) He is a powerful hitter with a high batting average.
(d) He irritates the pitchers until they hit him with a pitch.

13. How does Willie feel about his meeting with Cyril Wheat?
(a) Willie is not sure how he feels because he is not sure whether he trusts Cyril.
(b) Willie resents the fact that Cyril is making him talk and is angry.
(c) Willie is glad that he came and feels relieved to have someone to talk to.
(d) Willie feels completely empty inside and cannot describe his emotions.

14. How does the crowd react to the end of the Crazy Horse Electric game?
(a) Some fans cheer, but others groan.
(b) At first they are stunned into silence, but then they erupt into cheers.
(c) They politely applaud both teams' efforts.
(d) They immediately jump to their feet and cheer.

15. How does Willie retaliate after Sal Whitworth hits Johnny?
(a) He charges off the mound and tackles Sal to the ground.
(b) He drives a hard fastball into Sal's toe.
(c) He aims a high fastball right at Sal's head.
(d) He refuses to pitch to Sal.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who joins Willie's family on the trip to the lake?

2. How does the Crazy Horse Electric game end?

3. Why is Willie on his way to see Coach Williams when he runs into Jenny and Jeff Rhodes?

4. Why are Willie's arms and head trapped when he falls into the water?

5. Why does Cyril tell Willie that he doesn't "do dreams"?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,095 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample