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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. In 1940, what was the population of Mooreland?

2. What was Zippy asked to do for Andy's family when they went on vacation?

3. What happened at Big Dave and Debbie's house when a runt pig was born?

4. Where did most people bury their animals, defying city codes?

5. What color was Kia's mother?

Short Essay Questions

1. How, as a baby, did Zippy take a nap? What does this story indicate to the reader?

2. How did Zippy get her name? Why did the nickname stick?

3. How did Zippy view the story about how Julie's parents met, married, and lost their daughter Connie?

4. Why was it important to Zippy that her sister win the Fair Queen in 1972?

5. What deal did Zippy and her dad reach about the pink Bible?

6. What do you think happened after Zippy's father confronted his neighbor Reed?

7. Who was Julie's voice and why?

8. Why was Zippy so emotional when Andy sang "Poor Wayfaring Stranger" at Jigger's funeral?

9. What do you think Doc Holiday really thought of Zippy?

10. Why do you think Zippy's mom was absent during the night of the "dog-sitting?"

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Zippy's mom's upbringing. Do you think she had a good childhood? What do you think of the story that her mother told the class about the brain tumor? What does this do to your opinion of Zippy's mother? Do you think her childhood affected her adult life? How?

Essay Topic 2

Does the author believe that Mooreland is the same now as it was when she grew up there? What does she say about the current residents? Why do you think she writes this disclaimer in the Prologue of the book? What, in Zippy's personality, is the author trying to protect when she does this?

Essay Topic 3

With the introduction of Dana and Melinda cleaning the house for her slumber party, what is evident about the Jarvis's house? What dark side does this bring forth? How does this signal Zippy's mom's depression?

(see the answer keys)

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