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. What does Liz say makes Ellie part of the in crowd?

2. To whom is Lance talking on the sidelines?

3. About what is Ellie's father writing a book?

4. What does Ellie leave the bleachers to do?

5. What does the Order of the Bear believe?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Ellie and Will talk about as they are floating in the pool?

2. What does Marco do that seems to be a deliberate attempt to upset Will?

3. What happens as the teens prepare to go sailing?

4. Why does Ellie pull out her school directory?

5. What do Will and Ellie talk about on the widow's walk?

6. What does Ellie notice when she runs by a ravine? Why does she think it odd?

7. Summarize what Ellie says about the Arthurian legend.

8. What do Ellie and Will write to each other in emails when Ellie gets home from track tryouts?

9. How does Will interact with Ellie's parents?

10. Why are Ellie and her parents in Annapolis for a year?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Meg Cabot.

2. What in Cabot's background may have helped her in writing Avalon High? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of interesting questions raised by Avalon High. Questions that Cabot most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Cabot's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Cabot's probable agenda concerning that idea.

3. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

4. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

5. Research the life of Cabot and see if/where her life may have influenced her writing.

Essay Topic 3

Will and she asks him if there is something upsetting him. He says no, but goes on to tell her that his dad is pressuring him to attend the Naval Academy for college. Will tells her that he will get in, but that he doesn't want to be in the military and that his father is having a hard time accepting his decision. Ellie tells him his father is probably pushing him into a Naval career because he feels it is the best thing for Will. Will expresses, very eloquently, that he doesn't want to go into the military because he believes in peace and negotiation. Ellie suggests Will talk to his step-mom and ask her to try and convince his father to ease up on talk of Will joining the military. Will finally told his father that he didn't intend to go to college at the Naval Academy. Will's father was so enraged that he kicked Will out of the house.

1. Discuss reasons Will's father might be pressuring Will to go to the Naval Academy? Consider the possibilities of both positive, e.g. he thinks it will be good for Will and negative, e.g. Mr. Wagner's ego is involved, when writing your answer. Use examples from Avalon High and your own life to support your answer.

2. Discuss what Will's belief in peace and negotiations says about his values, morals and his character. Use examples from Avalon High and your own life to support your answer.

3. Why do you think Will has not considered speaking to his mother about helping him and Ellie comes up the the idea? Discuss this in terms of their different family dynamics, their personalities and their genders. Use examples from Avalon High and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,271 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample