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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 Yoshiko tell Gunnar about herself one morning?

2. What does Gunnar realize his words may sound like?

3. Where is the second place Gunnar and his bride go?

4. What is preventing Gunnar from going to his mother's home?

5. What does Gunnar decide is the best approach to his speech?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Nick complain about Boston and what does he do about it?

2. When does Gunnar's wedding take place and who performs the ceremony?

3. What does Gunnar see when they finally get out of practice in Chapter Seven and how does he learn what is happening?

4. How does the school counselor feel about Gunnar's SAT scores and what happens because of his scores?

5. What happens when Yoshiko goes into labor?

6. Who crashes Gunnar's wedding and what happens between them and his bride?

7. What does Gunnar do when he can find no extracurricular activities to join and want does Gunnar write Yoshiko while on the road?

8. Where is Gunnar's wedding reception and where does he go for a honeymoon?

9. What does the recruiter from Boston University do to woo Gunnar?

10. What kind of social life does Gunnar, Yoshiko and Nick have in Boston?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think it is important that The White Boy Shuffle was written? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think The White Boy Shuffle did what the author set out to do? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Explain why you might or might not read another book by this author about another black person. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Gunnar from the beginning of the book to who he is at the end of the book. How are they similar? How are they different? Which person do you like more? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Nick and Psycho Loco. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in The White Boy Shuffle who help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in The White Boy Shuffle. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of individual freedom in The White Boy Shuffle. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess individual freedom? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of tradition in The White Boy Shuffle. What is Gunnar's view of tradition? Gunnar's mother? Nick's? Gunnar's father. Why is tradition important to some characters? Is anyone willing to abandon traditional viewpoints? Who? What are the positive and negative sides to holding fast to tradition?

(see the answer keys)

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