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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. Who heckles Ben from the stands during his first basketball game?

2. Who drags Sammy from his car on lover's lane?

3. How does Bull see God?

4. What does Ben say to Bull when he goes to bring him home?

5. What does Mary Anne believe is Ben's motivation for the invitation?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who instructs the male students on sex during catechism? Why?

2. What is Ben's biggest fear as he tries out for basketball?

3. Why does Ben want to avoid the local hang-out after being thrown off the basketball team/.

4. Ben teases Mary Anne about how much he will miss her when he goes to college. What does this say about their relationship?

5. What is significant about the sexual discussions in the locker room?

6. Why does Ben injure a player from the opposing team during a basketball game?

7. Why does Ben invite Mary Anne to the prom?

8. Bull dies a hero. How does this affect the family dynamics?

9. Why does Ben go to Toomer's even after Bull refuses to allow him to go?

10. Why does Mr. Loring tease Ben in his English class? How does Ben feel about this attention?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Bull begin going to Hobie's Grill? What is significant about Bull's behavior in public compared to his behavior at home? Why is Bull different in public? What does this say about the behaviors of an abuser? How does this behavior make seeking help more difficult for the abuser's family? Is this behavior stereotypical? What other stereotypes exist in this book? List as many as you can.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of racism. What examples of racism are there in this novel? How does racism affect the characters of the novel directly? Indirectly? What characters are motivated by racism? What characters are affected by racism? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Ben is man of the family in his father's absence. How is the family different with Ben in charge? How is the family the same? How is Ben like Bull? How is Ben different? Will Ben grow up to be his own man, or will he follow in his father's footsteps? How has Bull's early death affected the course of Ben's life? How might Ben's life been different had Bull not died the way he did?

(see the answer keys)

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