View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. Why does Susan feel the way that she does about the idea of Paul being away from his parents and learning self-reliance?

3. In Chapter 24, where do Paul and Spenser go after lunch?

4. When does Paul set out on his journey of self-discovery and growth?

5. Who is the man sitting at the desk in Chapter 25?

Short Essay Questions

1. Is Spenser's plan to blackmail the Giacomins in order to make them pay for Paul's education and living expenses, as well as staying away from him a good plan? Why? Why not?

2. As evidenced in his conversation with Spenser in Chapter 20, why is Paul curious in relation to why his parents think the way that they do?

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

4. Why does Paul force Spenser to wake him the way that he did in Chapter 16?

5. What type of character is Harry Cotton?

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

7. Does Susan make a good point about parental rights in Chapter 23? Why? Why not?

8. What is the lesson that Spenser is trying to teach Paul via the two of them building the cabin together with their own hands instead of hiring someone else to do it or using machinery?

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

10. Why does Spenser decide to take Paul to Fryeburg and build a cabin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Spenser and Susan's relationship is very different from Mel and Patty's.

Part 1) Explore the relationship between Susan and Spenser in a more in-depth way; how do they treat each other (i.e., Spenser uses manners when speaking to Susan; Susan is always truthful to Spenser, even when it is not something that he necessarily wants to hear);

Part 2) How does the relationship between Spenser and Susan affect Paul?

Use specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the course of the book, Paul learns some less than savory facts about both of his parents. He seems to handle that information well, but sometimes it can be difficult to really understand what another person is going through just by the way they look or how they talk. Using the information about Paul that we know from the text, what do you think his feelings about his parents are after he finds out their "dirty laundry"? Use examples from the text to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,503 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample