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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. She has them take off their shoes, and then she gives the girls buttermilk and __________.

2. Out of whom does Grandma squeeze a whole silver dollar?

3. The narrator tells the reader that her father lost his job and her brother Joey has joined __________.

4. Usually it's a _________ for a cup of stew.

5. Mary Alice is enrolled as a __________.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Mary Alice bring to Grandma's house? Why does she bring this?

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

5. What warning does Grandma give Mary Alice before she leaves her at school? What does this warning foreshadow?

6. How does Grandma handle these pranksters?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

After arriving in town, Mary Alice is directly taken to high school.

Part 1) Describe Mary Alice's high school experience. How does it compare to your own school experiences? How was school in the 1930s like school today? How was it different?

Part 2) How does school become an important place for Mary Alice? How is she changed by her experiences at this school? Are these changes good or bad? Why?

Part 3) How have your school experiences changed you? Do you believe attending school is an important part of one's childhood? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Grandma is a unique character.

Part 1) Describe your initial thoughts about Grandma. How did your opinion of her change by the end of the book? Why did your opinion change?

Part 2) What issues does Grandma's behavior bring up? What is her opinion of these issues? Why? How does your opinion compare to hers? Are your beliefs questioned by reading this book? Why or why not?

Part 3) What would the world be like if more people were like Grandma? Would this be a better place? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Mildred Burdick is a bully.

Part 1) How is Mildred a bully? Why is she a bully? How has this bad behavior been passed down through the generations in the Burdick family?

Part 2) How are others affected by Mildred's behavior? What happens to Mildred by the end of the book? What does this say about bullies? What might this also reveal about the author's opinion of bullies?

Part 3) How have you been affected by bullying? How have you dealt with bullying? How has society worked toward stopping bullying? Has it been successful? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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