View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who watches Merit in the library?

2. When Grant came out to his parents, how did his father react?

3. Who is Shelby really?

4. Who does Audrey sense needs her, subsequently flying to New Orleans?

5. Merit has a job playing what in a bar?

Short Essay Questions

1. Do you think that Faith handled Beau well, when Beau was crying in his room?

2. Why do Audrey and Slip argue?

3. How does Faith initially react to hearing that Beau is gay and that Shelby is a man?

4. Do you think it was right for Audrey to let Grant join the Angry Housewives book club?

5. How does Fred's presence at the book club meeting affect Slip?

6. What is Kari's attitude towards Julia in this section of the book and how might it affect Kari later in the book?

7. Describe the changes in Fred in this section of the book.

8. How does the relationship between Eric and Merit come full-circle at Reni's college graduation?

9. How is Slip's illness reminiscent of the opening of the book and what could it mean in reference to the beginning of the book?

10. Do you think it was right for grant's father to treat him differently, after finding out that Grant was gay?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Keeping secrets is a major theme of the book.

Part 1. Choose at least four secrets in the book and describe the pros and cons of keeping them, as well as what happened to the characters when those secrets were revealed.

Part 2. Based on your response to part 1, as well as your real life experiences, do you feel that keeping a secret is ever a good thing? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Fred and Slip are on opposite sides of the war issue, even though they are brother and sister. Fred enlists and Slip goes to anti-war rallies. Which one of them do you side with, as far as war goes, and why? Use several examples from both the book and real life wars to back up your answer.

Essay Topic 3

When Beau begins to exhibit feminine qualities, Faith thinks that she can shape him into a more masculine child. Also, when Grant tells his father that he's gay, Grants father reacts badly and, essentially, disowns him. Using examples from both the book and your real life experiences, discuss how you feel about the reactions of both Faith and Grant's father. For example, do you think it's possible for parents to shape their children to be something they wouldn't naturally be and, if so, do you think it's ethical? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,058 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample