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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 did Mrs. Zajac see that Robert had tried to create for his Science Fair project?

2. What was the topic for Claude's Science Fair project?

3. Where did Mrs. Zajac take her class on a field trip?

4. What two things happened in Kelly School during the early winter that affected Mrs. Zajac deeply?

5. What statistic applied to Holyoke School about their standardized test scores?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. As the class approached spring break, how did Mrs. Zajac feel about her class? About herself? What were her parting words to Jimmy as the children leave for a week's break?

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

4. What did Mrs. Zajac begin to realize about continuing to keep Clarence in her class? What were her options?

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

6. Who among Mrs. Zajac's students was particularly excited about entering the science fair? What was the project? How did Mrs. Zajac feel about this student's participation in the science fair?

7. Who in Mrs. Zajac's class won a ribbon for their Science Fair project? How did the ribbon recipients respond to being awarded for their efforts? How did the other children respond to the award?

8. Where did Mrs. Zajac take her class on a field trip? Why did she choose this place for the children to see? Why was this trip especially important to Judith and Arabella?

9. Who was the new child sent to Mrs. Zajac's class when school resumed after winter break? How did she get to Holyoke and Mrs. Zajac's class?

10. What was the Alpha class? Who decided whether a child was appropriate for the Alpha class?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are some of the qualities of a good teacher that Kidder presents through the teacher Mrs. Zajac? Are there any overarching qualities necessary to be a good teacher in Kidder's opinion? What are they and why does he believe those qualities to be important?

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

What role does Al Laudato play in Kidder's book? Is he an important part of Mrs. Zajac's success as a teacher? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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