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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 are Grandpa Ball and Gypsy fixing at the beginning of Chapter 13?

2. What excuse does Gypsy give for her pixie haircut?

3. Who does Woodrow bring with him to visit Gypsy at her window in Chapter 11?

4. What is notable about the five guests?

5. What did Blind Benny do after his parents died when he was twelve?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of the argument between Gypsy and Woodrow in terms of how they know what is especially painful for each other?

2. What is the significance of Porter's support of the piano recital for Gypsy?

3. Explain how Porter's love for Gypsy comes through related to her severely cutting her hair.

4. What does Gypsy do at home after her memory of finding her father after he had committed suicide?

5. Describe Woodrow's behavior at the wienie roast and how it reinforces his character.

6. What explanation does Woodrow give for what has happened to Belle?

7. Why is Woodrow looking through the personal ads in the newspaper while sitting in the tree house?

8. How does Gypsy's relationship with Porter begun to change as she changes her perspective on many things?

9. How does Woodrow's use of mind control help him get back at Mrs. Cooper for her mean-spirited attacks on him?

10. What is Grandpa Ball's opinion of why Belle moved into the mountains as a young woman and what impact that had on her relationships with people in the outside world?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of women in the American South during the mid-20th century. What precedents did these women feel compelled to follow? What restrictions did they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century women do not have? How were their lives significantly more difficult than the lives of 21st century women?

Essay Topic 2

The author used more than one iteration on the theme of abandonment. Identify at least two examples about abandonment in the book and then explain why the examples support the theme.

Essay Topic 3

What is the greatest lesson Gypsy learns from Porter? Is it true that important lessons are also painful ones? What will Gypsy always recall about Porter and how he was able to reach out to her that summer?

(see the answer keys)

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