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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. What grade was Dan in when he started playing basketball?

2. At the Newman's birthday party, who did NOT jump into the corn pile?

3. What did Zippy's father win gambling that belonged to Zippy and only Zippy?

4. When Zippy was "stalking good works" whom did she try to help first, describing her as "164 years old"?

5. What did Zippy think when her mother left one day mad at her father?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Zippy's mom mean when she said usually "people aren't thinking about you at all"?

2. What was the significance of the hippies moving into town?

3. What instrument did Zippy what to play and why was it not accepted by the music teacher?

4. What were Zippy's thoughts about a single moment?

5. What did Zippy mean when her mother rode off on her bike and Zippy thought, "It won't be long now."

6. Why did Zippy feel everything in her life changed when Dana moved to town?

7. How did Zippy confuse the Great Depression with the depression her mother suffered from?

8. Why was Zippy so stunned by the question Melinda asks about their father: "Is he drinking?"

9. What was the ultimate reason Zippy did not get the presents she wanted for Christmas?

10. How did Zippy view cleaning and parenting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

If the Jarvis's were poor, Zippy was completely unaware. Give examples from the book that tell the reader that Zippy came from a poor family. Give examples from the book that indicate that Zippy was unaware of their poverty.

Essay Topic 2

Did Zippy's mom feel guilty about Zippy being sick as a baby? How did that manifest in her life and her raising of Zippy?

Essay Topic 3

How did Zippy's dad prepare to go camping? How would you describe this behavior? Why do you think Zippy's dad went through this ritual? Why was this important to him?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 950 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample