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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. It is revealed that a major reason for having the shoot at the Abernathy farm is do what?

2. What frightens Mary Alice in her room?

3. Before Grandma leaves, about what does she warn Mary Alice?

4. Grandma dodges Mary Alice's question of what?

5. Grandma makes sure to do what with this boy's desert?

Short Essay Questions

1. How has Bootsie changed since he moved in with Grandma? What has led to this change?

2. Where does Mary Alice go directly after arriving in town? What is happening there when Mary Alice arrives?

3. Why is Mary Alice afraid at night in her room? How does she deal with this fear?

4. How does Mildred go about attempting to collect the dollar from Mary Alice? What does this reveal about Mildred?

5. Why does Mary Alice move in with her grandmother? What does this reveal about the Great Depression?

6. What is theme is strong in this section? Support your response with information from this section.

7. Describe Halloween in this town. Why might it be like this?

8. What does Grandma do when she arrives at the Pensingers' residence? Why does she do this?

9. How does Old Man Nyquist upset Grandma?

10. How does Grandma defeat Mildred, the bully? What lesson does this teach Mary Alice?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A "dangerous man" arrives in town.

Part 1) Who is this man? Describe him and the reason he is in town. Why might people of this town consider him dangerous? How do these fears affect the way they treat him? How does Grandma take advantage of this? Why does she do this?

Part 2) Describe the event that leads the citizens of this town to like him even less? Is he to blame for this surprising and shocking incident? Why or why not? Why does the town see him as guilty?

Part 3) How does Grandma help to turn the town's opinion around regarding this man? Why does she want to help him? What does this turn-around reinforce about this town?

Essay Topic 2

This book is a work of historical fiction.

Part 1) What details in the book make it a work of historical fiction? How are these details important to the story? How are they also important to the reader? Would this boo be as enticing and engaging without these historical facts? Why or why not?

Part 2) Why might someone choose to write a work of historical fiction? What is the purpose of all works of historical fiction? What is your opinion of historical fiction? Why? Has your opinion of historical fiction been influenced by reading this book? Why or why not?

Part 3) What is your favorite genre? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Mary Alice falls in love with Royce.

Part 1) How do Mary Alice's feelings for Royce develop throughout the book? How do his feelings for her mirror her feelings for him? How is Mary Alice finally able to get the courage up to invite Royce over? How might Grandma have played a role in this?

Part 2) What about Royce is appealing to Mary Alice and the other girls? Do you see in him what these girls see? Why or why not? What is special about Mary Alice? How does she stand out from the rest of the girls in her school?

Part 3) What other romantic attachments take place in this book? What is the purpose of these attachments to the story? How are they tied to the plot, character development, and/or themes?

(see the answer keys)

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