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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 does Bootsie bring that he will not allow Mary Alice to keep?

2. To everyone's surprise, Mary Alice is chosen to play what part?

3. Who is her true family?

4. The next day, Grandma negotiates a good deal for the hides with whom?

5. Who turns out to be Mrs. Weidenbach's long-lost sistert?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is another way that Grandma surprises Mary Alice during this holiday season? How is this surprise important?

2. Why does Grandma change her mind regarding Mrs. Weidenbach's request?

3. How is Mary Alice's date interrupted? How is this foreshadowed?

4. How does Grandma take advantage of this man? Why does she do this?

5. What does Grandma do to pay the bills and survive during the Great Depression? How is this foreshadowed?

6. How does Mrs. Weidenbach act when Grandma agrees to bake the tarts, if the meeting is held at Grandma's home? Why does she react this way?

7. How do the girls react when a new boy enrolls in school? How does Mary Alice act? Why might she act this way?

8. What is one way that Grandma surprises Mary Alice during this holiday season? How is this important?

9. How does Mary Alice finally take a chance and ask Royce over to visit? How does Grandma feel about this? Why?

10. Why might the townspeople act this way toward this strange man?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Armistice Day is an important day in this town.

Part 1) What is the purpose of Armistice Day? How does this town celebrate this day? How are these celebrations important? Why is this day especially important to Grandma?

Part 2) What holidays in our own culture today serve a similar purpose? How are these holidays important? How do you celebrate these holidays? Do you believe most ways in which Americans celebrate these holidays are adequate and reflect the purpose of these holidays? Why or why not?

Part 3) How has war been a significant aspect of American culture? Why? How has war been a constant part of human interaction throughout time? What does this reveal about humans?

Essay Topic 2

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 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)

This section contains 1,102 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample