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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 happens after "The Lady Writing" is returned to the National Gallery?

2. What does the publication say in conclusion?

3. Where is Old Fred found dead?

4. Why does Ms. Hussey not come to school?

5. What do protests encourage the thief to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do Petra and Calder run out of Delia Dell Hall and what do they decide to do?

2. What happens to "The Lady Waiting" and how does the National Gallery respond to part of the thief's demands?

3. How does Calder manage to search Mrs. Sharpe's house, and what does he find?

4. What does Petra find near Mrs. Sharpe's home?

5. Who is chasing Petra and Calder and what happens?

6. What is significant about the number twelve?

7. What does Petra think about as she is reviewing what happened at Delia Dell?

8. What happens when Petra and Calder have tea with Mrs. Sharpe?

9. What happens when Petra enters her kitchen the next morning?

10. Why is Petra nervous in Delia Dell Hall?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lo! is a book full of unexplained events. The clippings in this book come from newspapers from all over the world and include hundreds of stories of bizarre events. The majority of these events are of living animals falling out of the sky. Charles Fort, the author of the book, believes that people take what happens around them and then make these often odd and unlikely events fit into something they can understand, rather than taking what actually happens and trying to figure out why it has happened.

1. Do you think a bizarre event can always be explained by science, even if the knowledge is not available in the present time? Why or why not? Use examples from "Chasing Vermeer" and your own life to support your answer.

2. Making something you see into something your mind understands or expects is a common phenomenon. For example, we might see "waht" but read "what". Discuss an incident in "Chasing Vermeer" in which one of the characters saw an event and decided to interpret that event based on what the character wanted to find or know. Use examples from "Chasing Vermeer" and your own life to support your answer.

3. Explain, in depth, how reading Lo! changed Petra and Calder's perception of the world. Use examples from "Chasing Vermeer" and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

The art information given in Chapter 3 encourages young readers to be interested in art and its connection to literature. This chapter is an example of teaching across curriculum and how various school subjects are related. Ms. Hussey gives the students a quote by Picasso regarding how are tells a lie but also tells the truth.

1. Discuss the ways in which art and history are connected. Use examples from the book and your own life to support your answer.

2. Explain what is meant by teaching across curriculum. Use examples from "Chasing Vermeer" and your own life to support your answer.

3. Choose one of the following pairs of school subjects and explain, in detail, how they are connected in real life. Math/English; Science/History; Art/Social Studies or Math/Music.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "Chasing Vermeer".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of "Chasing Vermeer". How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of "Chasing Vermeer". How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

(see the answer keys)

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