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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 Jeff decide to invite Brother Thomas to do in order to make him feel better?

2. Jeff decides to talk to Melody as he believes that she is his ______________.

3. Jeff feels sorry for Melody who never knew what the real ____________ were, according to him.

4. Melody tells Jeff she knows he picked his father because he is the ____________________.

5. ____________ tells Jeff he worries he might be losing touch with Jeff again.

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is waiting for Jeff when he returns from his visit with Melody?

2. What does Melody believe about the reason why Jeff decided to stay with his father instead of with her?

3. What does Wilhemina tell Jeff about the Tillerman family and how they arrived at their current home?

4. What does the girl that stops to listen to Jeff do when she comes back to visit a second time?

5. What does Jeff do for the Tillermans, though he has gone out of his way to avoid them after Melody's visit?

6. What does Jeff realize about Dicey when Dicey's mother dies?

7. Why is the Professor worried when Gambo's lawyer is coming to visit their house?

8. What does Jeff do during the last free period of the day during his sophomore year of high school?

9. What kind of business does Jeff set up over the summer with the help of the Tillermans?

10. Why do Brother Thomas and the Professor show up at the amusement park to see Jeff?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

No matter what happens with his mom, Jeff seems to still want a relationship with her. Even with unanswered letters, he continues to hold onto the picture of her he has in his head.

Part 1: Why do you think Jeff is so committed to being loyal to his mother?

Part 2: If you were Jeff, would you be so loyal? Why or why not?

Part 3: Do you think that Jeff should have given his mother another chance? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Anger is an emotion which is often suppressed in the modern world. We are told anger is negative and that it only hurts people.

Part 1: What do you think about expressing anger? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Why?

Part 2: Why do you think Jeff is so hesitant to be angry with his mother?

Part 3: Why do you think Jeff feels so guilty after expressing his anger with this mother?

Essay Topic 3

The Professor is a complicated character as well, with hidden emotions and an inability to talk about what he feels at times.

Part 1: Why do you think the Professor was given a name instead of being called 'Dad'?

Part 2: Why do you think it's difficult for the Professor to talk about his feelings?

Part 3: How do you think the Professor feels about Melody leaving him?

(see the answer keys)

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