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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. Who is the son of the principal?

2. The day proceeds, and most of the _________________ are bad shots.

3. To whose class is Mary Alice taken?

4. At _____________ o' clock, everyone stops to observe a minute of silence for Armistice Day.

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What is a main reason for why Mary Alice does not want to move in with her grandmother? Why might she feel this way?

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

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

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

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

6. How does Old Man Nyquist upset Grandma?

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

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

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

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

Grandma lives in a small hick town.

Part 1) Describe this small town and its inhabitants. Why does Mary Alice think she will not like this town? In the end, does Mary Alice end up liking the town? Why or why not?

Part 2) What does this town reveal about Americans throughout the country during the 1930s? What aspects of this town are universal and could represent many towns throughout the U.S.?

Part 3) How does this town compare to your own? How have Americans changed since the 1930s? How have they stayed the same? What are possible causes of these similarities and differences?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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