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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 does Finny finally conclude about the accident?

2. Who becomes angry at Finny's diagnosis?

3. What does Gene's boss nickname him?

4. What seems distant and unreal in a time of war?

5. What does Finny convince Gene to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the doctor say about the outcome of Finny's injury?

2. After Gene leaps from the branch into the water, how does Finny respond?

3. Who are the four boys that are with Gene as he stands by the tree?

4. Describe the opening scene of Devon when the Fall Session convenes.

5. Who can not believe that the allies bombed Central Europe?

6. Who does Gene describe the tree when he was younger and standing in front of it with other boys?

7. As Gene and Finny are getting ready to sleep on the beach, what does Finny reveal to Gene?

8. What happens when Gene and Finny decide to try another double jump from the branch?

9. What sport does Finny create in order to make up for the appalling sport in #14?

10. What sport does Finny think is a horrible addition to the summer athletics program?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Competition seems to be another large theme in this book, with the boys competing with each other for anything and everything they can.

Part 1: List three specific competitions the boys engage in.

Part 2: What does the competitive nature of Gene and Finny say about their friendship?

Part 3: Why do you think the author made Gene the one that excels in academics while Finny excels in sports?

Essay Topic 2

The death of Finny is a scene that shocks the reader, and yet at the same time, it almost seems a blessing for this character.

Part 1: Why was Finny's original accident the worst thing that could have happened to him?

Part 2: How does Finny handle his initial accident as compared to his second accident?

Part 3: Do you think the death of Finny was necessary to tell this story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

From the very beginning, we learn that Gene will be the narrator from the story, but as with any narrator, a reader must question whether they can be trusted or not.

Part 1: Do you think Gene is a reliable narrator? Why or why not?

Part 2: In realizing that Gene might not be the most reliable narrator, how does this change your perception of the story and of Gene and Finny?

Part 3: What other character might prove to be a more reliable narrator? Support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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