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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 caused the death of Willie's sister?

2. How does Cyril Wheat explain Willie's feelings toward Jenny?

3. At what point did Willie's mother stop fishing with them?

4. Why does Big Will say that his guilt over Willie's accident is more difficult than Mrs. Weaver's guilt over Missy's death?

5. Why do Willie and his father wear helmets when they ride the motorcycle?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Willie react to the graffiti left by the Jo Boys?

2. Why does Willie decide to wait for the bus at the bench even though the gang is there, too.

3. Why does Hawk attack Kam?

4. Why does Lisa offer to help Willie?

5. What do Jenny and Johnny reveal about their families?

6. In what ways does Sammy help Willie?

7. What suggestion does Cyril Wheat give Willie regarding his dreams?

8. Why do the other boys on the baseball team go after Johnny Rivers and hose him down?

9. Why does Mr. Walker ask Willie to take over the job as team-manager for the girls' basketball team?

10. What evidence suggests that Jenny Blackburn is a match for Willie in both athleticism and competitiveness?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Mrs. Weaver's and Big Will's means of dealing with tragedy. Which seems to be more successful in overcoming adversity? Why is this?

Essay Topic 2

When Lisa talks about Willie's accident, she refers to it as "you crippled yourself" as opposed to saying "you got crippled." Explain her reason for choosing to phrase it this way, and explain whether or not you agree with her perspective. Provide evidence from the novel to support your point.

Essay Topic 3

After Willie's accident, Big Will pushes him to try to improve his physical abilities, but Willie fails. When he meets Lisa, Willie is much more willing to push himself and he sees positive results. Why are Lisa's efforts to help Willie so much more successful than Big Will's? Provide evidence from the text to support your observations.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,062 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample