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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 happened to Joyce's husband?

2. Who does Ava plan to see during her move?

3. Who does Ava talk to about a rash of break-ins that have occurred lately?

4. What does Eddie tell Ava was the crime that put him in jail?

5. What was one of the main aspects of Ava's circle of friends' lifestyle she didn't like?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ava do the first time the Sewing Circus meets at Joyce's?

2. What does Eddie ask Ava and how does she respond?

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

4. Describe the dream Ava has in Eddie's garden.

5. How are the two sisters reacting to Imani's presence in the house?

6. What happens when Ava and Joyce watch Frank and Mattie's house?

7. What does Joyce decide to do about the damage to her window?

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

9. What does Ava think about the lifestyle that gave her HIV and for what does she grieve?

10. Who is Aretha and what are are hopes for her future?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gerry Anderson's returning the AIDS pamphlets symbolizes the ignorance and denial of many who would be in a position to help and possibly save lives.

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 AIDS education should be taught to high school students? Why or why not?

3. What do you think is the best way for young people to learn about and avoid AIDS?

Essay Topic 2

Time has also taken its toll on the lives of those closest to Ava, and we learn of the difficulties suffered by Joyce, Joyce and Ava's mother, Eddie and even Ava herself. Their stories are different, but the theme of success in spite of adversity is starting to emerge through the glimpses of character that the author reveals in these early chapters.

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

2. Do you think adversity can make a person try harder to be successful? Why or why not?

3. Do you think Ava, Joyce and Eddie's lives are any more difficult than most people's? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The summer has reached its climax for the main characters. The author has positioned each of the characters in the way of tremendous conflict so that each may know what matters most to them, and what they are prepared to do when threat emerges.

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 Joyce should do about Imani? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Why do you think Ava would run when Eddie asks her to marry? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,175 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample