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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. Why is Shawn glad that Ally leaves before he got up?

2. What are the first word or words that Shawn's father has ever heard Shawn speak?

3. What does the reader know for sure Vonda has in her purse?

4. While at the Pacific Science Center, Shawn indicates someone "looks a lot more 'mad' back then." Who is Shawn referring to?

5. According to the interview of Earl Detraux on the Alice Ponds Show, what is his quality of life like currently?

Short Essay Questions

1. Paul and Shawn's mother have opposite views about Sydney, Shawn's father. Who does Shawn agree with and what is his opinion of his father?

2. Which characters are going to Spokane in chapter 13 and why is it significant that they are going?

3. What is Shawn's opinion of the role of memories and "being known for who you are" when someone dies?

4. What is the Annie-Sullivan-meeting-Helen Keller-in-The Miracle-Worker routine and what does Shawn think about it?

5. On The Alice Ponds Show, what is Alice Ponds' goal while interviewing Sydney McDaniel.

6. In Chapter 14, why does Shawn fall asleep exhausted at ten o'clock that night?

7. The morning after Ally spends the night, why does Shawn think that something is wrong?

8. How does Shawn describe the African animal mobile that hangs over his bed, and why does he describe it in this manner?

9. What is in Shawn's father's bedroom that is reminiscent of the virtual ride through the cosmos at the science center and why is this significant?

10. If Shawn has never been to his father's house, does Shawn have an accurate knowledge of what his father's bedroom looks like, and if so, how does he know?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Shawn mentions that he actually enjoys the weird irony that he is the smartest person in his class and yet he is considered the most ineducable. Irony seems to be a theme in Stuck in Neutral.

Part 1) Identify five instances of irony within Stuck in Neutral. Explain why these instances can be considered ironic. Identify each instance by the type of irony: verbal, situational, or dramatic?

Part 2) What is the function of irony within the novel? What is the author trying to get across to the reader by the use of irony? Is there a pattern? To support the argument, use examples from the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Shawn, his sister, and his mother witness the death of a dog that is hit by a car. How does this experience affect Shawn and his perception of death?

Part 1) What are the circumstances surrounding the death of the dog? How is the dog injured? What do Shawn's sister and mother do when the dog is injured? What do they do when the dog dies? What does Shawn see and experience when the dog dies and what is his attitude toward death just after the dog dies?

Part 2) Why is it important in the story that Shawn remembers witnessing the death of the dog? How does the topic of death relate to Shawn's own life? Does experiencing the death of the dog affect Shawn? How does Shawn feel about death as he remembers the death of the dog, and what does Shawn think death means at this point in his life?

Essay Topic 3

When Shawn's father shows up at his class with a cameraman to tape footage for a PBS special on "Appropriate Allocation Decisions in an Era of Diminishing Funding," what are the similarities and differences between Shawn's father's beliefs and actions with those of Shawn's teacher and teacher's aides and how does Shawn feel about these people?

Part 1) What is the approach of Shawn's teacher and aids to the students in the class? What does Shawn think about these characters and why? How do these characters react to Shawn's father and his documentary? Why?

Part 2) While Sydney McDaniel is videotaping his special for PBS, what does he say about educating people who "cannot learn?" What does Shawn think about the points that his father makes? What in particular that his father says catches Shawn's interest in a big way?

Part 3) What are there similarities or differences between Shawn's father and the classroom teacher and aides regarding the way they think about and treat the children? What are they and why do they exist?

(see the answer keys)

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