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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. Where are Petra and Calder sitting at the opening to Chapter Sixteen?

2. What does a man with a foreign accent do?

3. How do Petra and Calder rethink their estimate of the thief?

4. What is does Petra and Calder think Petra has found?

5. What is the Castiglione's treehouse?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Ms. Hussey in Chapter Fifteen?

2. Why is Petra nervous in Delia Dell Hall?

3. Who do Petra and Calder see on their way to school and what does she give them?

4. How is Ms. Hussey's class metamorphosing?

5. What does Petra think about as she is reviewing what happened at Delia Dell?

6. What do Calder and Petra wonder as they sit in Gracie Hall?

7. How does Calder manage to search Mrs. Sharpe's house, and what does he find?

8. Who is chasing Petra and Calder and what happens?

9. What happens when Petra and Calder have tea with Mrs. Sharpe?

10. What does the letter from Tommy say and how do Petra and Calder help?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Calder plays with his pentominoes in his room; they help him think. He is contemplating the assignment given by Ms. Hussey. What is art? To him art is something puzzling. Calder researches Vermeer and notices that he uses the same objects in many of his paintings. He also wonders if there is any hidden information in his paintings.

1. Why do you think Calder might think art is puzzling? Use examples from "Chasing Vermeer" and your own life to support your answer.

2. It is logical that Vermeer might use the same objects in many of his paintings. Explain why this might be true. Use examples from "Chasing Vermeer" and your own life to support your answer.

3. What do think Calder means when he wonders if Vermeer's art has hidden information in it? Use examples from the book and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an important part of what makes "Chasing Vermeer" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Calder. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Petra. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Mrs. Sharpe. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

4. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Ms. Hussey. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Chasing Vermeer belongs to the young teen novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the young teen novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young teen novel and a historical novel?

(see the answer keys)

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