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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 is Ginny to find Piet?

2. Where does Ginny realize she needs to go?

3. How does Knud say he is living?

4. Where does Ginny go after leaving Richard's place?

5. How many flights does Ginny have to climb to get to her room?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who picks Ginny up in Copenhagen and where does he first take her?

2. Where do Keith and Ginny spend the night in Paris?

3. How does Ginny find a key?

4. What does Keith tell her when she sees him at the hostel and what do they do from there?

5. What does the group do when the leave the beach in Greece and what does Ginny do when she finds out she has no money?

6. What does Peg say about Paris when she finished her job at the cafe and what does she tell Ginny she is to do next?

7. How does Ginny get to use the internet in Amsterdam and what does she do on it?

8. Why does Ginny have to look for a hostel in Amsterdam and how does she feel about the first one she finds?

9. How does Ginny find out who Piet is and what does she find out from him?

10. Who does Ginny meet at the hostel in Copenhagen, what do they nickname her and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of interesting questions raised by "13 Little Blue Envelopes". Questions that Johnson most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Johnson' agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Johnson' probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Johnson and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

Essay Topic 2

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 "13 Little Blue Envelopes" 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?

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Maureen Johnson.

2. What in Johnson's background may have helped him in writing "13 Little Blue Envelopes"? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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