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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Ms. Coil criticize Codell's teaching of Native Americans.
(a) Ms. Coil is angry for not being informed about a field trip to the Native American History Museum.
(b) Ms. Coil believes fifth-graders are too old to dress up in Native American costumes.
(c) Codell only teaches about one tribe, and Ms. Coil prefers a broader approach.
(d) Ms. Coil believes having a "powwow" stereotypes Native American culture.

2. At the end of the day in which Codell makes a student teacher for the day, what does Codell have her children do?
(a) Codell encourages the children to do a similar switch with their parents at home.
(b) Students write a composition about their experience and what they learned that day.
(c) Codell assigns them double homework, because they were so unruly throughout the day.
(d) Codell has the last part of class outdoors, to reward the children for their excellent behavior.

3. How does Codell respond to Billy Williams when the boy claims that he hates her?
(a) "No matter how you feel about me, I will always love you."
(b) "Every time you say that, you hurt my heart and make me sad."
(c) "Every time you say you hate me, I'm going to give you an extra homework problem."
(d) "I'm not crazy about you either, kid, but we have to find a way to stand one another."

4. What does the first student to use the "time machine" report about his or her experience?
(a) The student claims to have gone back to the Jurassic period to observe dinosaurs.
(b) The student tells about a medieval joust they "witnessed."
(c) The student tells about meeting Wyatt Earp and helping to rid Dodge City of criminals.
(d) The student complains that the time machine is not real.

5. What is the name of the mentor who inspired Codell to do her best as a teacher?
(a) Lillia.
(b) Ms. Coil.
(c) Ismene Siteles.
(d) Mr. Turner.

6. How many new teachers are introduced prior to the school's opening in Part I?
(a) 5.
(b) 35.
(c) 12.
(d) 25.

7. What occurs on the bus ride to the university science fair on October 13?
(a) The students manage to finish a lengthy "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" sing-a-long.
(b) The bus is attacked by gang members, who throw rocks at the windows.
(c) Codell must break up a fight between two female students.
(d) The bus suffers a flat tire, and the students miss the fair.

8. What gift does Codell buy for Melanie for her birthday?
(a) A Webster's Dictionary.
(b) A child-sized purse.
(c) A backpack.
(d) A pack of lip glosses in various flavors.

9. What is the ethnic makeup of Codell's class?
(a) Mostly hispanic.
(b) About half and half, black and white.
(c) Mostly black.
(d) Mostly white.

10. What is Codell's general attitude toward Ms. Federman?
(a) She respects her persistence in teaching for so long.
(b) She thinks Ms. Federman is a dinosaur from a long-gone era.
(c) She cannot agree with almost all of Ms. Federman's radical teaching methods.
(d) Codell is angry with Ms. Federman, because she promises to help Codell but never does.

11. Why does Codell take her students outside for a field trip on January 7th?
(a) Codell feels that the students have been cooped up too long, and they will find the outdoors refreshing.
(b) There is snow on the ground, and the trip is a chance to teach about precipitation.
(c) The trip is a chance to examine trees and decide what kind of trees they are.
(d) She has the students build an elaborate snowman to encourage teamwork.

12. What was Codell's impression of prostitutes on her block as a young child?
(a) They constantly curse at Codell, and she avoids them whenever possible.
(b) Codell know about the nature of their profession and is disgusted by them.
(c) Codell is tricked by her father into believing they are movie stars.
(d) Codell admires them for their bold, colorful clothing choices.

13. How does Melanie react to the birthday party Codell throws for her on January 8th?
(a) She is joyous, laughing and singing along with the birthday song.
(b) She is angry at Codell for "trying to replace my mom."
(c) She is moved and quiet, thanking Codell for her thoughtfulness.
(d) She cries, and claims she does not deserve such attention.

14. What poem, dedicated to Brandi, does Codell make her October 19th entry?
(a) How to Teach Impossible Students.
(b) How to Tame a Tiger.
(c) How to Fold a Paper Snowflake.
(d) How to Draw an Invisible Dragon.

15. Which student actually stabbed the substitute teacher in the back with a pencil?
(a) Esther.
(b) Serena.
(c) Billy Williams.
(d) The students never reveal who it is.

Short Answer Questions

1. What about Mr. Turner's phone call habits irks Codell in the first few entries of the book?

2. Which student must be stopped from casting voodoo spells on students in class?

3. According to a November 10th entry, what did Codell's landlord call her father's apartment?

4. Part I begins with a letter to potential fifth-graders written by whom?

5. How do older teachers react to the great effort Codell takes with preparing her classroom for the first day of school?

(see the answer keys)

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