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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. This man explains he was sent to Grandma by Maxine Patch, the postmistress, and that he is in town to do what?

2. What are Mary Alice and Grandma helping each other do when a man with a strange accent comes calling in April?

3. Royce shows himself to be very good at math, and partly to romance him, Mary Alice does what?

4. Carleen Lovejoy will play the leader of ______________, and she is intent on outshining all others.

5. Why is the answer to number 113 a problem?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the final surprise in this chapter? Are you surprised by this? Why or why not?

2. How does Grandma initially respond to Mrs. Weidenbach's request? Why?

3. How is Carleen Lovejoy like Mildred Burdick?

4. What is Grandma's final surprise for Mary Alice? What does this reinforce about Grandma?

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

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

7. Why is this man in town? What does Grandma think of this?

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

9. How do Ina-Rae and Mary Alice get back at Carleen? Why do they do it in this way?

10. How do the townspeople treat Arnold after this shocking event? Why?

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

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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