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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 disease is Ralph diagnosed with?

2. Who does Ralph ask questions of at the beginning of Chapter 7?

3. The movie company is having trouble finding people to do what?

4. Why does Ralph's doctor advise him to move out west?

5. Most of the riders on the movie set make how many falls?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who creates a commotion on the movie set one night?

2. Why does Lonnie have to walk back to Mesa the next day?

3. What deal does Ralph make with the movie people and how much does he earn in a week?

4. Why does Ralph allow Lonnie to search for a car, and what is Ralph's opinion of the car Lonnie finds?

5. Who are the Larsens and what role do they play in Ralph's life?

6. What does Mr. Larsen do to help the boys get the car back and then send them on their way?

7. Why does Ralph give the train conductor a gift and what gift does he give?

8. What is Ralph's opinion of the movie set and who is surprisingly working there?

9. What are Ralph's two main concerns when he is unable to secure a job after a week?

10. What does Ralph negotiate for the next day as Lonnie works on the car?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain some of the examples of regionalism found in the book. Can regionalism include more than accents and food? What else encompasses the culture and personality of a region? What are the major differences Ralph found in his new life in Arizona as opposed to the life he led before in Boston?

Essay Topic 2

What is the point of view of the story? What are the benefits and the limitations to this particular point of view? How is the point of view determined? Provide an example that supports your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Ralph and Lonnie. Both young men are trying to carve out new lives but seem to have different methods and goals. How are Ralph and Lonnie alike? How are they different? On what things do they agree? What is the thing that threatens to separate them? What other similarities and dissimilarities are there between the two characters?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 976 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample