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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. How old does Little Man say he will be when his father will buy him a shotgun and take him hunting?

2. What children's television show does Little Man describe watching in Chapter 4?

3. By what nickname does Mam call the narrator of the story?

4. What happens when Mr. Spiro asks Little Man his name in Chapter 3?

5. Where was Rat trying to ride his bike down concrete steps when he incurred his scar, according to Little Man in Chapter 8?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Big Sack? What is this character's relationship to Little Man?

2. What does Little Man discover on his birth certificate in Chapter 7? How does he respond to this information?

3. How does Little Man say he is relating the story of the stabbing in Chapter 1? Why is he relating the story in this manner?

4. Who is Ara T? Why does Little Man give his pocket knife to Ara T in Chapter 3?

5. What plans does Little Man make with his father in Chapter 8? What becomes of the plans?

6. What does Little Man confess to Mam in Chapter 6? How does Mam respond?

7. What do Little Man and Mr. Spiro discuss when Little Man comes by on Friday for collection in Chapter 5?

8. How are Little Man's athletic and academic achievements described in Chapter 1?

9. How is Little Man's experience at the restaurant described in Chapter 7?

10. What is Rat's real name? What is Rat's relationship to Little Man?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Little Man's introduction to his homeroom class in Chapter 20. What does Little Man do in order to overcome his fear of speaking? What does Little Man say about himself?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of racism and racial segregation in Paperboy. How is this theme developed through character and setting? What events in the story are directly tied to the themes of racism and racial segregation?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the events that occur in the climax of the narrative. Where does the climax of the story take place? What dangers does Little Man face in the climax? How are these conflicts resolved?

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