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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. Mad, Grandma affixes a spare tire to the front of the farmer's tractor in the barn, and does what?

2. After school, how does Mildred follow Mary Alice?

3. To whose class is Mary Alice taken?

4. A forlorn Mary Alice informs Grandma of ______________.

5. Mildred intends to do what by following Mary Alice?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Armistice Day? What is a holiday that we have that serves a similar purpose? What is the purpose of this holiday?

2. How does Grandma get back at Old Man Nyquist? Should she have done this? Why or why not?

3. How can Mary Alice now find out who the pranksters were?

4. How does Grandma trick Mildred? What does this reveal about her?

5. What has happened to Mrs. Abernathy's son? Is this still seen today? Why or why not?

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

7. How does Grandma raise money for Mrs. Abernathy? Is this a good tactic? Why or why not?

8. What is burgoo stew? How might this represent life during the Great Depression?

9. How does Grandma greet Mary Alice? Why might she act this way?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The first section begins a pattern that repeats throughout the rest of the book.

Part 1) What is this pattern? How is this pattern significant? What theme does this pattern support? What characters does this pattern and theme affect? How are they affected?

Part 2) How is this pattern and theme relevant to your own life? How can you relate to the characters in this book through this theme?

Part 3) What is another book you have read or story you have heard that has this same theme? Is this a universal theme? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The Epilogue takes place several years later.

Part 1) Describe the Epilogue. What is the purpose of the Epilogue? How does the way in which the Epilogue was written compare to the rest of the book?

Part 2) How has Mary Alice changed over the years? How has the world also changed in such a relatively short period of time? How does the Epilogue wrap up the story that takes place throughout the previous chapters of the book?

Part 3) Is the Epilogue necessary? Why or why not? Is it an effective ending to the story? Why or why not? Is this how you would have ended the story Why or why not? If not, how would have ended it?

Essay Topic 3

Grandma hunts foxes to survive.

Part 1) Describe Grandma's hunting technique. Are you surprised by her decision to hunt foxes? Why or why not? How might she have come to be a fox hunter? What does this reinforce about her character?

Part 2) What is the purpose for revealing this in the story? How does this help to develop Grandma's character and her relationship with Mary Alice?

Part 3) How have other characters in this story adapted to the hard times of the Great Depression? How might you have adapted at this time to survive? What skills do you posses that would be useful?

(see the answer keys)

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