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78 pages 2 hours read

Gary Paulsen

Harris and Me: A Summer Remembered

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1993

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Exam Answer Key

Multiple Choice

1. B (Chapter 8)

2. B (Chapter 7)

3. A (Various chapters)

4. B (Various chapters)

5. A (Various chapters)

6. D (Chapter 1)

7. A (Chapter 11)

8. C (Various chapters)

9. D (Various chapters)

10. C (Chapter 8)

Long Answer

1. Harris and the protagonist are alike in that they are both boys, they are both young, and they both have a love for adventure, “goofing” around, and getting into trouble. The boys are different in that Harris is from the farm and the protagonist is from the city. The protagonist is more likely to follow rules than Harris, and the protagonist is also more of a follower in general. Harris is more likely to take dangerous risks. The protagonist is slightly more mature than Harris and is approaching adolescence, so he is starting to have an interest in girls. Their similarities and differences mean that Harris sometimes manipulates the protagonist into getting his way, and Harris also pressures the protagonist into helping him perform dangerous stunts. Their differences cause conflict when Harris attempts to interfere with the protagonist’s conversation with a girl. (Various chapters)

2. Each chapter is a vignette that tells a story of an event or day on the farm. In each chapter, the protagonist learns something about farm life, physics, people, or life itself. Examples include learning about physics when Harris attempts to emulate Tarzan, learning the value of teamwork when the family mows the fields together, and Harris learning about speed when he builds the motorbike and flies down the road. (Various chapters)

3. The descriptions in the story are vivid, detailing the passing of the hours of the day, the atmosphere of the farm, the landscape, and the contrast between the protagonist’s former city life and his experiences on the farm. These descriptions help characterize the Larsons as deeply rural people who are not afraid to get dirty, who spend the majority of their life outside, and who work long hours to keep their farm going. (Various chapters)

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