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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. Why did they call ahead?

2. Where were the markers located?

3. Colton was obsessed with _________________ and often pretended to be one.

4. How did Colton react to the surprise brought by Norma?

5. Why was Colton yelling for his father?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who was stronger in this situation, Todd or Sonja? Why?

2. How did Colton react at the funerals? Why?

3. Why did Todd rage at God? Should he have done this? Why or why not?

4. How is the story about Rosie the Spider significant?

5. How was Colton's recovery miraculous? Do you believe the prayers helped? Why or why not?

6. What might Todd mean by the shadow of death?

7. What surprising information was learned at Arby's? Why was this surprising?

8. What did Todd confess? Why was this not a full confession?

9. What did the Burpos refuse to stop paying? Why do they do this?

10. How was Colton's response regarding paying the doctor significant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Colton grows sick again.

Part 1) Why has Colton become sick again after the surgery? What do his family and doctor decide to do? How does this lead to more complications? How does this affect the mood of the book?

Part 2) How do others react to Colton's second bout of illness? What connection might this have to his getting better? How is his quick healing so surprising? What do you believe might be the explanation for his getting better so quickly?

Part 3) Do you believe that there is more to healing than the use of medicine? How much of one's ability to heal is due to one's body's abilities? How much is due to one's mental state? How much is due to prayer to various gods? Explain your answers.

Essay Topic 2

The trip in March was to be celebratory.

Part 1) Why was the trip supposed to be celebratory? What had happened to the Burpo family prior to this trip? How had their faith and strength been tested? What did these previous challenges reveal about the Burpo family?

Part 2) How did the trip change? Why did it change? How did the various family members react to these changes? What do these reactions reveal about them?

Part 3) How, in the end, did this trip in March lead to celebration? When have you suffered and later realized it had led you to positive changes in your life and/or in the lives of others?

Essay Topic 3

Colton wants readers to know that "heaven is for real."

Part 1) How is this purpose seen throughout the book? Might this be what God wants? Why or why not?

Part 2) Will all readers read this book and believe that heaven is for real? Why or why not?

Part 3) Do you believe that heaven is for real, as seen from Colton's point of view? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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