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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. To what does Mr. Morton think Will is now vulnerable?

2. How does Mr. Morton respond to what Ellie tells him?

3. What does Ellie ask Mr. Morton?

4. Why does Ellie spend the rest of first period in the bathroom?

5. Why does Ellie want to have a private conversation with Lance?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ellie say about Mr. Morton's abandoning his job and about the order?

2. What do Ellie and Jennifer talk about in the girls' bathroom?

3. Why does Mr. Morton say Ellie cannot help the situation?

4. What does Mr. Morton say he is doing? What does he advise Ellie to do?

5. Why does Will have to dive into the water? What is Jennifer's response?

6. What happens in the aftermath of the revelation about Lance and Jennifer's relationship?

7. What do Will and Ellie say to each other about Lance and Jennifer?

8. What does Ellie suggest Will do concerning his father pressuring him about the naval academy?

9. What do Will and Ellie do after their talk about Jennifer and Lance?

10. What does Ellie decide to take with her to the ravine? How does the Darkness seem to react to her doing so?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Avalon High based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Avalon High is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider Avalon High a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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