Names ______-
The Contender
Multiple Choice
1.)Where does Alfred work?
a.The clubhouse
b.The gym
c.He does not work
d.A grocery store
2.)Why do Major, Hollis and James choose the Epsteins' store to break into?
a.Alfred suggested it.
b.The Epsteins are Jewish and would not be there on a Friday night.
c.To get back at Alfred
d.The Epsteins leave the door unlocked.
3.)Why doesn't Alfred warn them about the alarm system?
a.He wants them to get into trouble.
b.He does not know about the alarm system.
c.He forgets about the alarm system.
d.He does not think they will actually try to rob the store.
4.)What do Major and Hollis to do Alfred after James gets caught trying to rob the store?
a.They make him disable the alarm
b.They make him apologize to James.
c.They beat him up.
d.They avoid him.
5.)What first prompts Alfred to think about going to the gym?
a.Henry tells him about it.
b.He sees Willie Streeter on TV.
c.Mr. Donatelli invites him.
d.He wants to beat up Major and Hollis.
6.)Why does Alfred give up on boxing in the beginning of the book?
a.He loses three fights in a row.
b.Donatelli tells him he's not good enough.
c.He doesn't have enough money to pay for lessons.
d.He is sick of working so hard and not getting to do any real boxing
7.)When Alfred sees James at the clubhouse, what does he learn?
a.James lost his job.
b.James is using heroin.
c.James has a new girlfriend.
d.James is back in school.
8.)Why does Alfred decide to start training again?
a.Mr. Donatelli asks him to
b.Henry asks him to
c.He realizes his desire to box.
d.He needs to know once and for all whether he has what it takes to be a contender.
9.)What happens to Willie Streeter after he loses the fight in the beginning of the book?
a.He trains harder and wins the heavyweight title.
b.He loses his drive and motivation for boxing.
c.He goes back to school.
d.He gets a new trainer.
10.) What is Jelly Belly's limitation as a boxer?
a.He does not have the killer instinct/
b.He is not strong enough.
c.He cannot control how much he eats
d.Like Willie, he cannot fight when injured.
11.) Why does Spoon stop boxing?
a.Mr. Donatelli suggests that he retire and go to school instead.
b.He loses a championship bout.
c.He gets married.
d.He breaks his nose too many times.
12.)What does Aunt Pearl think about Alfred's boxing?
a.She fully supports it.
b.She is worried that he will get associated with dangerous people.
c.She wants him to get a new trainer.
d.She thinks he should put his energies into a less dangerous activity.
13.)What does Aunt Pearl try to do to dissuade Alfred from boxing?
a.She threatens to throw him out.
b.She has the Reverend talk to him.
c.She talks to Mr. Donatelli about getting Alfred to quit.
d.She buys Alfred piano lessons.
14.)What do Major and Hollis want Alfred to do to the Epsteins?
a.Rob their store
b.Leave the store door unlocked
c.Disable the store's alarm system
d.Get the Epsteins to forgive James
15.) How many matches does Alfred win?
a.One
b.Two
c.Three
d.None of the above
16.)What haunts Alfred about his match against Griffin?
a.The way Griffin lays on the mat after the punch
b.The way Griffin pummels him ceaselessly
c.All the blood in the ring
d.The booing in the crowd
17.)Why does Alfred suddenly get along with his cousin Jeff?
a.Aunt Pearl tells him to be nice to Jeff.
b.Alfred has grown up a lot and has more in common with Jeff.
c.Jeff does not act like a college snob.
d.Jeff wants to be a boxer.
18.)What activity does Alfred considering getting involved in toward the end of the book?
a.Giving private boxing lessons
b.Helping at a drug rehabilitation clinic
c.Working at an after school program for kids
d.Picking up garbage at Central Park
19.) What does Mr. Epstein do to show Alfred his support of Alfred's boxing career?
a.He does not fire Alfred.
b.He gives Alfred a promotion.
c.He gives Alfred his old boxing gloves
d.He pays for Alfred's boxing lessons
20.) What added responsibility does Mr. Epstein give Alfred at the store?
a.He makes Alfred the night manager.
b.He lets Alfred order groceries.
c.He lets Alfred use the cash register.
d.He gives Alfred keys to close the store on Fridays
21.) Why does Mr. Donatelli believe that Alfred is not cut out to be a boxer?
a.Alfred gets hurt too easily
b.Alfred does not have the killer instinct
c.Alfred does not work hard enough
d.Alfred loses too many fights
22.) What prevented Mr. Epstein from being a champion boxer?
a.He did not have the killer instinct
b.He did not have the dedication it takes to succeed
c.He was too short
d.He cut too easily
23.) What is the result of Alfred's fight against Elston Hubbard?
a.He wins
b.He loses
c.It’s a tie
d.They do not finish the fight
24.) Why does Elston Hubbard hug Alfred at the end of their fight?
a.The referee makes him
b.He wants to thank Alfred for letting him win
c.He admires how tough Alfred was
d.He grabs Alfred, instead of hugging him
Discussion Question
1.)Why is it so important to Alfred to maintain his friendship with James, even when it seems James could not care less?
2.)Why does Mr. Donatelli go out on a limb for Alfred?
3.)How does Aunt Pearl differ from her own parents in terms of allowing Alfred the freedom to make his own choices?