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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Where does the crow land?
(a) On the railing under the overhanging branches.
(b) On Shawn's spare wheelchair.
(c) On the rear-view mirror on his father's car.
(d) On the telephone line in the alley behind the house.

2. What is Shawn's bad news?
(a) His parents got divorced because of him.
(b) All answers are correct.
(c) Being born changed life for the whole family.
(d) He is a total "retardate."

3. When Shawn describes his seizures in great detail, according to him what is it about his seizures that is especially irritating to his family?
(a) His uncontrollable drooling.
(b) The spasms.
(c) His uncontrollable laughter.
(d) The unpredictablility of the timing of the seizures.

4. What do Shawn's eyes tend to focus on?
(a) Nothing in particular.
(b) A smudge on the wall.
(c) What's visible through a window.
(d) Books left open.

5. Shawn values the experience of having seizures so much that he would trade what in order to continue having seizures?
(a) His wheelchair.
(b) His special gift.
(c) The ability to read.
(d) The lives of his immediate family.

6. In Chapter 8, Shawn says that his father's books, poems, newspaper and magazine articles and his job teaching literature at college always made him think of his father as what?
(a) Philosophical.
(b) Wise.
(c) Smart.
(d) Successful.

7. What allows Shawn to witness the dog's moment of death?
(a) The angle of the open door of the van.
(b) The side window clears for a second.
(c) Cindy picks up the dog.
(d) The front windshield wipers clear the glass.

8. What control does Shawn have over his body?
(a) Shawn cannot control any of his muscles or functions.
(b) Shawn can control his eyes.
(c) Shawn can bounce his head.
(d) Shawn can control his left finger and tap out Morse code.

9. Shawn especially enjoys interacting with Becky when she places him where every day?
(a) On the beanbag chair.
(b) In the standing contraption.
(c) On the large, mysteriously stained couch.
(d) Back in his wheelchair.

10. Where is Shawn the week before his father comes by the house?
(a) Shawn is on the back deck of the house.
(b) Shawn is in the living room.
(c) Shawn is in the backyard.
(d) Shawn is in the television room.

11. What happens when Shawn awakens from a seizure?
(a) He sees red swirls.
(b) He has a crackling feeling.
(c) He sees light blue swirls.
(d) His spirit is forced back inside his body.

12. What does Shawn hear as they first drive off in the van after the accident?
(a) A siren.
(b) The crunch of gravel.
(c) Silence.
(d) Crying.

13. At the premiere reading of the poem, who is referred to as "Bing-Bong"?
(a) A fictitious character in the poem.
(b) The woman with the huge breasts.
(c) The first speaker.
(d) Shawn.

14. How old is Shawn when he learns to read?
(a) Eight.
(b) Seven.
(c) Six.
(d) Five.

15. According to Chapter 1, what is Bell Town?
(a) A store where Sean buys CDs and DVDs.
(b) A hangout next to the Space Needle.
(c) The unofficial former Grunge Capital of the universe.
(d) A hangout a mile from Shawn's home.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who teaches Shawn to read?

2. In Chapter 8, what idea is more confusing to Shawn because he knows that his father loves him?

3. What does the crow do that startles Shawn and his father?

4. What happens in Chapter 7 when Shawn and his father are right in front of the camera?

5. At what location does the premiere reading of the poem that was written about Shawn take place?

(see the answer keys)

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