The Contender Study Guide Ch. 12-20
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Chapter 12
1.
What is the “rattlesnake”?
2.
Why does Aunt Pearl call Alfred?
3.
Does she suspect he’s hung over?
4.
Why does Alfred get in the car with Major?
5.
How do you think he could have gotten out of it?
6.
Does Alfred enjoy cruising in the Cadillac?
7.
How does Major treat the other boys as his lackeys? Why do you think they go along with
that?
8.
What do you think would have happened if the police had caught him?
9.
Did he do anything wrong?
10. Would he lie, as Major asked him to, if the police questioned him?
11. Does Alfred blame Major for getting him involved in trouble?
12. Should he? How can you tell he’s depressed?
13. Why does Alfred go back to the gym?
14. Why do you think he decides not to quit?
Chapters 13 and 14
20. What is Alfred’s recurrent dream?
21.. Why do you suppose he always has that dream?
22. How does Henry help Alfred?
23. Do you think that Alfred appreciates him?
24. How and why does Mr. Epstein decide to advance Alfred at work?
25. Why does Mr. Donatelli decide that it is time for Alfred to have a custom-made mouthpiece?
26. Why do you think Alfred doesn’t tell Aunt Pearl why he has the day off?
27. How does Alfred prepare mentally and physically for the fight?
28. Why is Mr. Donatelli disappointed in Jelly Belly?
29. Why does Henry limp?
30. Why do you suppose he doesn’t smile when Alfred mentions that his leg seems to be getting
better?
31. What argument did Spoon and his wife have about the North Pole?
32. How do Spoon and his wife help Alfred?
33. Why do you think they are willing to go out of their way for him?
34. What gift is given to Alfred?
35. What do you think Alfred is starting to say when he begins, “I hope…” as Bud dabs at his eyes
with the sponge?
36. Why isn’t Donatelli satisfied with how Alfred fights-even though he wins the match?
37. What is the example of personification in the beginning of the chapter?
Chapter 15
39. What is Aunt Pearl’s reaction to Alfred’s appearance after his fight?
40. What do we learn about Aunt Pearl when she was younger? Why might this influence her opinion
of Alfred pursuing his dreams?
Chapter 16
41. What idea does Lynn and Harold propose to Alfred?
Chapter 17
42. What do Alfred and Jeff discover at Thanksgiving?
Chapter 18
43. Why doesn’t Alfred throw “the punch to knock Barnes out”?
Chapter 19
44. Why doesn’t Donatelli want Alfred to fight Hubbard?
45. Describe the fight between Alfred and Hubbard?
Chapter 20
46. Where does Alfred find James?
47. What is wrong with James?
48. How does the story end?
49. What do you think will happen to Alfred?
50. How do you think boxing has changed Alfred’s life?