Boy21

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Finley’s love for basketball reveals which characteristic of his personality?

A) An innate impulse to please Pop

B) An obsession with perfectionism

C) A fear of failure

D) A desire to bring joy to Dad

2. Which of the following words best describes how Finley rates Erin’s basketball skills?

A) Subpar

B) Average

C) Astounding

D) Abysmal

3. Finley notes that when Pop drinks too much alcohol, he “starts dancing with the family skeletons” (Chapter 5). Which of the following literary terms best describes the above quote?

A) Alliteration

B) Allegory

C) Idiom

D) Allusion

4. Which of the following words characterizes the relationship between Finley and Coach in the beginning of the novel?

A) Respect

B) Disapproval

C) Shame

D) Abhorrence

5. Which of the following words best describes the initial interaction between Finley and Boy21?

A) Frugal but horrific

B) Unusual but enjoyable

C) Delightful but babbling

D) Violent but nurturing

6. After Boy21 inquires about Finley’s past, Finley reflects, “There’s a part of me that wants to discuss my past, why I don’t talk much, outer space even, everything, but it’s like my mind is a fist and it’s always clenched tight, trying to keep the words in” (Chapter 9). Which of the following literary devices does Finley use to describe his general lack of speech?

A) Metaphor

B) Onomatopoeia

C) Simile

D) Allegory

7. Which of the following best describes how Russ interacts with the other students on his first day at Bellmont High School?

A) Aloof

B) Timid

C) Insecure

D) Threatening

8. Which of the following best describes Erin’s relationship to Finley’s family?

A) Tenuous since they strongly dislike her

B) Apathetic since she has never met Dad or Pop

C) Secure since Dad and Pop love her almost as much as Finley does

D) Tumultuous since Erin is constantly fighting with Pop

9. During Thanksgiving dinner, Rod tells Finley that “‘Coach is pretty much the only good black man I’ve ever met’” (Chapter 20). Which of the following best describes why Finley does not choose to negate this statement?

A) Because he agrees with Rod

B) Because he fears Rod

C) Because he does not want to upset Erin, who always defends her brother

D) Because he does not care about the conversation

10. When Russ asks Finley what happened to Erin, Finley replies, “‘Basketball is my girlfriend now’” (Chapter 22). Which of the following literary devices does Finley use in this quote?

A) Oxymoron

B) Personification

C) Simile

D) Allegory

11. Which of the following words best describes the Bellmont community’s feeling towards its high school basketball team?

A) Esteem

B) Flippancy

C) Apathy

D) Sorrow

12. Which of the following sentences best describes how the team reacts to Boy21’s admission of his extraterrestrial motives?

A) They are primarily concerned for his psychosocial state.

B) They are ashamed that someone crazy is on their team.

C) They are interested in his scientific data collection.

D) They are more focused on the likelihood that they will win state championships.

13. Which of the following phrases describes Finley’s relationship with Mr. Gore?

A) Trusting because he is Erin’s father

B) Fearful because he is a crime boss in Bellmont

C) Apprehensive because he is school counselor

D) Loving because he is the Coach

14. How is Erin’s accident a turning point for Finley?

A) He realizes he no longer loves basketball.

B) He begins to share his thoughts and opinions more openly with his peers.

C) He retreats into the quiet of his mind.

D) He severs his ties with Russ.

15. By Chapter 35, how have Finley and Russ’s relationships to basketball changed?

A) Basketball is no longer important to Russ, while it is more important to Finley than Erin is.

B) Russ has decided to pursue basketball full-time, while Finley has decided to continue only in the capacity of assistant coach.

C) While Finley is no longer able to dissociate basketball with Erin, Russ is now relearning his love of the sport.

D) Finley has decided to quit basketball completely, while Russ will take over as Coach of Bellmont’s basketball team.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. Imagine that this story was told from Boy21’s perspective. How would the shift in narrator change elements of the plot? 

2. Compare and contrast Finley and Boy21’s approach to basketball. Which character represents “hard work” and which represents “talent”? What does the ending suggest about what is the most important thing?