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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 does Ava do with Gerry when she comes over?

2. How does Ava feel about the meals Joyce and Eddie cook?

3. What does Ava prefer over the teachings of the Baptist Church?

4. From whom did Joyce receive a letter in July?

5. What does Ava promise Aretha if she goes to Interlochen?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Joyce and Ava do the night Gerry brought the envelope to the house?

2. What is the news about the baby Joyce helped with the night Ava arrived and what happened to her?

3. Who does Joyce see as a shining example for the other girls and why?

4. What does Ava see and do at Eddie's house?

5. What happens on the way home from the airport?

6. What does Ava do when she gets up and who does she encounter? How does she feel?

7. Why has Gerry Anderson come over to Joyce's and what is Ava's reaction?

8. What does Ava tell Joyce when she returns from Eddie's after the Sewing Circus?

9. What do Joyce and Ava find in Johnny Mack's house that reminds them of the past and what does it make them think about?

10. Where does Ava meet up with Eddie again and why has she not seen him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gerry Anderson, the minister's wife, is the epitome of self righteous, judgmental behavior.

1. Do you think this statement is true? Why or why not? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. Tell about a situation you or someone you know was confronted with a judgmental person.

3. Do you think a person has the right to judge others and tell others how to behave? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Joyce asks for the opportunity to address the boys herself. Joyce symbolizes the compassion and understanding that is so lacking in the lives of these kids, whose futures seem dim if they don't receive some sort of positive intervention.

1. What do you think is meant by this statement? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think compassion is more powerful than punishment in changing a person? Why or why not?

3. If your house was vandalized by kids what would you want to do about it?

Essay Topic 3

Clearly, the adversity faced by Eddie and Ava has provided each of them with not only a tolerance for situations that are far from perfect, but also respect for the core of the other person.

1. What do you think is meant by this statement? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. Do you think if Eddie had had no problems in his life he would have accepted Ava as well? Why or why not.

3. Do you think adversity is necessary in order to make a person tolerance? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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