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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. Which of the following newspaper sections are read to Penny on while she is at the hospital?

2. Why is Eleanor disappointed toward the end of Penny's twelfth birthday?

3. Which of the following states is Uncle Dominic visiting while Penny is in the hospital recuperating from her injury?

4. What is the flavor of the ice cream that Penny is gifted with while she is recuperating in the hospital?

5. Who drives Penny and her family to the funeral home for her deceased relative's wake?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to the narrative in Chapter 14 of the book, what contributes toward Penny shedding tears and telling her Uncle Dominic that her life is all messed up?

2. According to the text in Chapter 17 of the book, what contributes to Penny's disappointment while she is in the hospital?

3. According to the narrative in Chapter 17 of the book, how do Penny's relatives make her feel special while she is in the hospital?

4. According to the text in Chapter 20 of the book, do any pleasant things or occurrences take place in Penny's life upon her return from the hospital?

5. According to the narrative in the thirteenth chapter of the book, what types of items is Penny gifted with on her birthday that may help enhance her appearance?

6. According to the narrative in Chapter 20 of the book, do any new beings enter Penny's life after she returns home from the hospital?

7. Based on the narrative in Chapter 19, how does Penny finally learn the truth about the circumstances that had surrounded her father's death?

8. According to the text in Chapter 16 of the book, how is Penny distracted to the point that she injures her arm while putting the laundry through the wringer of the washing machine in Nonny's basement?

9. According to the text in Chapter 15 of the book, what are some of the reasons that Penny should not join Frankie in going to the public pool?

10. Based on the narrative in Chapter 14 of the book, why has Frankie decided to run to Penny's house and hide there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

As the story begins, Penny is presented as a character with questions about what Heaven is like. As the story progresses however, it is apparent that she believes that her life will change for the better when she reaches Heaven. In contrast however, she states that she wants to put off death for at least 100 years. Explain how Penny's idea about her eventual enjoyment of Heaven coupled with her idea to put off death for at least 100 years, is illustrative of an antithesis type of literary technique. Support your explanation by citing examples of things that Penny enjoys on Earth, with her visualization of how those same things will be enhanced in Heaven. Then cite the things that she is enjoying on Earth so much, that may be persuading her toward putting off getting to Heaven for at least another 100 years.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout most of the book, the details surrounding Penny's father's demise are kept from Penny by relatives from both her mother's and father's side. Could the basis for keeping such details from Penny be based on the relatives' determination to protect Penny? O to protect her father? Cite text and/or paraphrase scenarios from the book to support your position?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the book, there are various sections that detail actions taken by family members on Penny's father's side that are aimed toward both protecting Penny, and providing her with certain material needs in her life. Could those actions be based largely on her father's members perhaps having vowed to take care of Penny at the time of her father's death? Or could their origin be based on their genuine affection and concern toward Penny's well-being? Cite text and/or paraphrase scenarios in support of your position.

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