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 Calder say speaks to him and gives him answers?

2. What does Petra think it all means?

3. What is the purpose of the book "Chasing Vermeer"?

4. What shocks each of the three people?

5. What does Petra notice about her father the next day?

Short Essay Questions

1. What about Petra's Halloween outfit is familiar to Calder and what shocks Petra about something she sees in a book about Vermeer?

2. What does the letter published by the Chicago Tribune state?

3. How are clues related to the story?

4. Why is the University School founded, and how what Ms. Hussey think of this?

5. Why does Calder think he and Petra should call The National Gallery?

6. What is Ms. Hussey's assignment, and what is Calder's first response to the assignment?

7. What do Petra and Calder do additional study on and what does Petra learn about the woman in her dream?

8. What interrupts Calder's writing about his assignment?

9. How do the students respond to the quote by Picasso, and who is especially intrigued by it?

10. What is Petra's father upset about and what is Petra's response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Chasing Vermeer" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Chasing Vermeer" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think "Chasing Vermeer" is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 950 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample