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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. What kind of store does Rat's father own?

2. Why does Little Man give Ara T his knife?

3. Where does Little Man's family live?

4. Where does Little Man find his birth certificate in Chapter 7?

5. Little Man describes reading a book about what sports figure in Chapter 3?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. Why does Little Man refuse Mam's offer for help with his collections for the newspaper route?

7. What is foreshadowed by Little Man's observance of Big Sack watching him from the alley in Chapter 8?

8. What information does Little Man reveal about himself, his friends, and his family in Chapter 1?

9. What do Little Man and Mr. Spiro discuss during Little Man's visit in Chapter 8?

10. What does Little Man overhear his parents talking about after coming home from the restaurant in Chapter 7? What does he make of this conversation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the character of Ara T. What role does Ara T play in the narrative (protagonist, antagonist, etc.)? Where is Ara T from? What is his relationship to Little Man?

(see the answer keys)

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