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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. How is Gervais characterized?

2. What does Mr. Thackray urge Jaime to do?

3. How does Ruby react to Gervais' comment on the second day?

4. On what has Ruby not made any progress?

5. What advice does Ruby give Nate?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ruby say about Gervais at the beginning of this chapter?

2. What happens when Nate takes Ruby back to her former home?

3. What decision has Ruby made concerning living with Cora and Jaime, but how does she hedge her bets?

4. What does Ruby want to do with the money Cora gives her for clothes, and what does she ultimately do?

5. Describe the conversation between Cora and Ruby about Cora's wedding.

6. How does Ruby come to get a job at the mall?

7. What does Jaime want Ruby to do when he picks her up at school one afternoon and what is her response?

8. What new ad campaign does Jaime dream up and what are Cora and Ruby's responses?

9. What does Ruby notice about Jaime at breakfast the next morning?

10. What does Ruby learn at the fish store and what fish does Ruby choose?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Lock and Key.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of Lock and Key. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Lock and Key. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

Harriett explains that in her family, someone is always mad at someone else and so the two are not speaking. However, later there will be some different argument so the two have to make up in order to band against someone else. Harriett seems to believe this is typical of families and Reggie says this explains a great deal about Harriett. His own thoughts about families are very different. He talks about shared history and beginnings. As they laugh at each other's thoughts, they both realize they are considered the black sheep of their respective families. Ruby will later come to discover that shared traits and situations are important to families and friendships.

1. Discuss Harriett's character explaining how the way her family interacts might have helped form the person she is as an adult. Use examples from Lock and Key and your own life to support your reasoning.

2. Discuss Reggie's character explaining how the way his family interacts might have helped form the person he is as an adult. Use examples from Lock and Key and your own life to support your reasoning.

3. Discuss, in detail, what issues you think Harriett and Reggie might have to deal with given their backgrounds and views on family if they were to ever get married. Use examples from Lock and Key and your own life to support your reasoning.

Essay Topic 3

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think Lock and Key is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

(see the answer keys)

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