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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. Besides the man sitting at the desk, who else is in the building that Paul and Spenser visit in Chapter 25?

2. What does the man at the desk threaten to do in Chapter 25?

3. Spenser takes Paul to Louis'; what is Louis'?

4. How does Susan describe the relationship that parents have with their children?

5. What does Spenser say about ballet dancers?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Spenser agree to keep Paul after the kidnapping scare when Patty is taken hostage?

2. Why does Spenser feel that teaching Paul to box and weight lift is important?

3. How does Spenser handle the confrontation with Patty in Chapter 22?

4. What is Susan's opinion about Spenser keeping Paul?

5. What type of character is Harry Cotton?

6. Why does Paul's revelation that he would like to be a dancer important?

7. How does Susan feel about Spenser sending Paul and Patty to her house in Chapter 13?

8. In Chapter 17, Paul asks Spenser why he cannot simply leave him alone. Spenser replies that he cannot leave him alone because everyone in his life has left him alone and it has not done him any good. He also tells Paul that his goal is to help him become a better person. What does Spenser mean by that?

9. Is the violence used in Chapter 24 necessary? Why?

10. Is Spenser's evaluation of Susan's attitude in Chapter 23 an accurate one? Why? Why not?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Spenser feels that in order for Paul to be autonomous, he must learn to work with his hands and have structure and order in his life. To illustrate this, Spenser adheres to a routine of physical exercise and construction on the cabin mixed in with new experiences like going to museums and listening to baseball games on the radio. Do you agree with Spenser that such activities and lessons as these (and the others described in the book) are important to Paul's becoming autonomous? Why? Why not? Use the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Spenser feels that the only way to make Paul grow up and become self-reliant, and in turn survive, is for him to get away from his parents. When Patty comes back to Spenser to take Paul back, Paul refuses to go and Patty leaves without him. This begins Spenser thinking about issues like parental rights and kidnapping, which Susan is also concerned about.

Part 1) If you were Spenser, what would your thoughts on these two topics be, pertaining to Paul? Would you agree with Susan, or would you agree with Spenser?

Part 2) If you were Paul, what would your thoughts on these two topics?

Essay Topic 3

Mel and Patty have a complex relationship. They used to be in love, hence their marriage and Paul's birth. Somewhere along the way, that marriage disintegrated, leading to their separation and eventual divorce. Now their only purpose is to hurt each other in any way that they can, specifically to use Paul as the object to do that with.

Part 1) Explore the motivation that the two have to hurt each other the way that they do; why do you think that they do it?

Part 2) What effect has that relationship between his parents had on Paul?

Use specific examples from the text to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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