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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. While Robert was in time-out isolation, and Mrs. Zajac accidentally left him with a penny, what did he do with it?

2. What question did Mrs. Zajac begin asking herself in March?

3. What did Al say at the end of his talk to his teachers about the standardized tests results?

4. Who were the "three Claudes" Mrs. Zajac identified as being part of Claude's personality?

5. What was one thing Father Joyce noticed about the Hispanic parishioners during the Spanish mass?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Mrs. Zajac think the students in her class would react to Clarence's departure from their class? How did they actually respond to Clarence not being in the classroom?

2. To what church did Mrs. Zajac belong for all of her life? Why was this? What did Mrs. Zajac enjoy about her church?

3. What is the history of Puerto Ricans in the town of Holyoke? How were they treated in the second half of the twentieth century?

4. What did Mrs. Zajac and her family do over spring break? Who organized the experience? Why did Mrs. Zajac decide to spend her spring break this way?

5. What were some of the differences Mrs. Zajac noticed between the English Mass and the Spanish mass? What did she learn about the Puerto Rican culture by attending the bilingual mass Father Joyce offered?

6. How did some of the teachers at Kelly School speak about the Puerto Rican students at Kelly School? Why did they respond this way to them?

7. What student left Mrs. Zajac's class? Why did the student leave?

8. How did Kelly Schools fare on the standardized tees the sixth grade took? How did Principal Laudato respond to this news? How did Mrs. Zajac respond?

9. What were some of the changes January brought to Mrs. Zajac's class and her students?

10. What were some of the other students' projects entered in the science fair? How did Mrs. Zajac feel about the parents who did not help their children with their Science Fair projects?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The writer uses many different literary devices to create a dynamic picture of Mrs. Zajac. What different literary devices does the author use to create a three dimensional person of Mrs. Zajac? Give an example of each device you discuss.

Essay Topic 2

At the end of the book when school is over, Mrs. Zajac described Clarence and Robert as "my failures." Do you agree that Mrs. Zajac had failed these two students? Defend your position.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the Puerto Rican and white cultures as evidenced in church, in school, and in the city of Holyoke.

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