2. What is different about Muncie?
(a) She is a genius.
(b) She is behind her class group by three years.
(c) She is Chinese.
(d) She is physically deformed.

3. What happens when the girls accidentally rile Ripley?
(a) He walks away.
(b) He throws a snowball and hits Muncie hard in the stomach.
(c) He says he's going to go talk to Mr. Harris.
(d) He says he's going to sic the dog on them.

4. Who is Tyrus?
(a) The mail carrier.
(b) A stray dog.
(c) A stray cat.
(d) The paper boy.

5. What does Nyle wonder about her mask?
(a) How it could protect her against something unseen.
(b) Whether it was any longer necessary.
(c) If they would have to wear the mask for the rest of their lives.
(d) If the mask would eventually become radioactive.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Ezra say about the puppy?

2. What does Ezra do when Nyla introduces herself?

3. What does Mr. Harris do?

4. Who approaches Nyle as she is examining the sheep?

5. What does Nyla notice about Ezra when she enters his room?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is ironic about Ezra's feeling about the back room?

2. How does the emotion of anger appear in this chapter?

3. What does Nyle ask her Gran about sheep farming and what is Gran's response? Does Nyle's response surprise you?

4. Describe Ezra's response to Nyle when she comes to read to him.

5. Describe Nyle's first encounter with Ezra.

6. The issue of a drawn curtain occurs in this chapter, in previous chapters, and in future chapters. How does this issue come up in this chapter and venture a guess as to the significance of the incident.

7. Why is it ironic that Nyle has to frighten off Tyrus from the sheep?

8. How do you think the theme of determination plays out in this chapter?

9. Ten days after the accident, what does the Principal announce and what do you think your response would be?

10. What do you think Ezra means when he says he feels like a phoenix?

(see the answer keys)

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