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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 does Hey-Soos point out to Ben when Ben says he wants an ordinary senior year?

2. Why does Dallas kick Ben out of the house?

3. What does Hey-Soos say about people?

4. What does Sylvia say about "The Autobiography of Malcolm X"?

5. What is the very talented football team they play in Chapter 13?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Rudy's note to Ben say and what is Ben's response?

2. Why does Ben go to see Rudy at three in the morning, and what does he find there?

3. What happens in Ben's first confrontation with Rudy's drinking?

4. What does Ben do for Rudy the next time he sees Rudy after hearing the man's confession, what does Rudy say to Ben about his confession and what is Ben's response?

5. What does Cody say to Ben after he tells him of his illness?

6. What does Dallas tell Ben about Joe Henry and what does Dallas ask Ben? What is Ben's response?

7. What does Mr. Lambeer tell Ben about the school bond levy, what is Ben's response and what does Mr. Lambeer then do with Ben?

8. Where does Ben stop after leaving Rudy's, and what does he find out there?

9. What team beats Ben's football team in late November, and why might they have been beaten?

10. What does Ben ask Coach about his book report, how does one of the students respond and what does Coach do to demonstrate democracy to the class?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Deadline" belongs to the young adult novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the young adult novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young adult novel and a historical novel mystery?

Essay Topic 2

The reader sees a connection which can explain even more why Ben has so much admiration for Coach. The man is dedicated to academic studies even during the football season. He is also very open-minded. He has no problem with Ben reading the Malcolm X book, and when another student voices the opinion that the book is bad, Coach turns the situation into a lesson on democracy and book burning. He knows how to reach the students and keep an open mind.

1. Discuss the stereotype of coaches not caring about academics and whether you believe that is true or not. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think the coach burning the book was wrong? Do you think it was a good demonstration? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Do you think students' reading should be censored by the school? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

The day after Rudy dies, Ben goes to the courthouse. His conversation with the sheriff gets him thinking about the value of life. The man seemed more interested in talking about the football game than he did in dealing with the life of the town drunk. That day Ben has a hard time concentrating because the events of the past few months have Ben really thinking about people and their lives. He thinks about factors in their lives that contributed to the way each person ended out.

1. Do you think Ben handled the situation with Rudy correctly? Do you think he should have called the police right after Rudy told him? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Why do you think people devalue a human life if it is someone like the town drunk? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Chose either Ben, Rudy, Dallas or Sooner and discuss how the factors in his or her life contributed to how that person became who he or she is. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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