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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. Valentine's Day is coming. Around this time, Mary Alice has been secretly doing what?

2. Mrs. Weidenbach is ready to__________ at these horrible new revelations.

3. How is the crowd shocked?

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

5. As a last surprise prior to the program, Grandma presents Mary Alice with what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Mrs. Weidenbach ask for Grandma's help? Why is this surprising?

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. What is learned about Mrs. Weidenbach? How is this significant?

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

10. What newspaper column does Mary Alice write? Why might she do this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

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

Mary Alice falls in love with Royce.

Part 1) How do Mary Alice's feelings for Royce develop throughout the book? How do his feelings for her mirror her feelings for him? How is Mary Alice finally able to get the courage up to invite Royce over? How might Grandma have played a role in this?

Part 2) What about Royce is appealing to Mary Alice and the other girls? Do you see in him what these girls see? Why or why not? What is special about Mary Alice? How does she stand out from the rest of the girls in her school?

Part 3) What other romantic attachments take place in this book? What is the purpose of these attachments to the story? How are they tied to the plot, character development, and/or themes?

(see the answer keys)

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