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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. Sarah and James make a pact: "Let no one, living or dead, absent or present, ever _____________."

2. What meal do James and Sarah share when they head out with each other?

3. Sarah also accuses James of trying to ___________ everyone at the school, including her.

4. Sarah signs to James that she has ___________ except for him.

5. James: "In the beginning, there was __________ and out of that silence there could come only one thing: Speech."

Short Essay Questions

1. Who enters the room with Sarah Norman after Orin finds success with his speech?

2. What is the reason for the argument between James and Sarah that follows the lawyer meeting?

3. What does James realize about Sarah as they are at a restaurant and she points to a dessert item on the menu?

4. Why is Orin taunting Sarah from the other side of the stage?

5. When James and Sarah finally talk, what do they agree happened between them?

6. What does Sarah do when she realizes she needs help with the menu at the restaurant?

7. What does James believe that he did which he admits to the audience with some difficulty?

8. What does James tell Mr. Franklin to do in regards to the case being brought against the school?

9. What does Orin tell Sarah about her marriage in relation to the deaf rights that he is fighting to gain?

10. What does Sarah do for a job, though her mother was unaware that she was doing this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The case against the deaf school is one that seems to be unnecessary to some audience members and vital to others.

Part 1: Why do you think Orin and the lawyer believe that the school is discriminating against its students?

Part 2: Do you think the lawyer has the best interests of Orin at heart?

Part 3: Why do you think that Mr. Franklin does not decide to settle the case out of court?

Essay Topic 2

The idea of passing for some sort of societal norm is the main theme of this book.

Part 1: Is it a good idea to try to overcome a handicap and pass for average? Why or why not?

Part 2: Is it a good idea to simply embrace a handicap? Why or why not?

Part 3: How do you think a deaf person should function within society? Why?

Essay Topic 3

James is insistent that Sarah learn how to speak so that she can interact with the world in a more effective way.

Part 1: Why do you think James wants Sarah to speak more? What are his motivations?

Part 2: Do you think that James would still be happy with Sarah if she never learned to speak?

Part 3: Do you think that Sarah wants to learn how to speak? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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