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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. How does Ava see the difference in the condition of homes in the area near the lake from the last time she was there?

2. In what season has Ava arrived in Idlewild?

3. What do Joyce and Ava do the night Gerry came over?

4. How does Ava feel about the Sewing Circus being held at the house the night she got her medicine?

5. What does Ava feel is one of Gerry's major character flaws?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where is the meeting about Joyce's house and what happens there?

2. Why is Ava happy her sister Joyce sounds optimistic?

3. How is Ava's summer in Idlewild going?

4. Who meets Ava at the airport and why?

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

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

7. What problem with the state does Joyce have and what does she decide to do about it?

8. What is the best thing that happens in Eddie, Joyce and Ava's life that summer?

9. What do the doctors say about Imani?

10. Why has Mattie come to Joyce's house and what happens?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theme of rising above adversity continues to thread throughout the book, and the author reveals some of the mechanisms that people use to accomplish that feat.

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

2. What do you think are some of the mechanisms people use to cope with adversity? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Being diagnosed HIV positive has hastened Ava's enlightenment and sense of urgency to make the most of her life, and this comes through in the tone and style created by the author.

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

2. What would you do if you were in Ava's situation? Use examples from the book and your life to illustrate your answer.

3. Do you think a diagnosis like Ava's is the only way people can learn to live witha sense of urgency? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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