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. What is Tom carrying that surprises the librarian?

2. What problem does Willie have when he, Tom, and Sammy go out to the fields in Chapter 2?

3. What is the mother's concern for her child's placement in Chapter 1?

4. Why doesn't Willie pick the color red for his suspenders?

5. Why does Willie end up in Mrs. Black's class?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are George's sisters upset with George on the day of the picnic, and what does this say about the way that they think?

2. What does the reader learn about Tom as he walks through town with Willie in Chapter 2?

3. What changes come over Tom as he takes Willie into town and spends the day with him?

4. Why has Willie come to stay with Tom and how does Tom feel about this?

5. Throughout Chapter 5, how does Tom show his care for Willie?

6. What are Sundays like for Willie at home with his mother? How do those Sundays differ from the Sundays he has with Tom?

7. Who is Chamberlain? What does he announce? And what will the effects of this announcement be on Tom and Willie?

8. How does Willie feel about Zach and what indicators are there about the way their friendship will or will not develop?

9. How does Willie begin to fit in with the children and what affect does this have on him?

10. What "firsts" does Willie experience in the "Birthday" chapter and how does he respond to them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the people of the city to the people of the countryside in this novel.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the relationship of Willie and Sammie from the time that they meet until the end of the story. How is Sammie therapy for Willie?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the growth of the character of Tom from the beginning of the novel to the end.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,799 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample