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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 the Widow Deventry have Crispin do?

2. What does Crispin pray inside in the chapel?

3. What does Crispin ask of John Ball and other rebels?

4. Where does Crispin find John Ball?

5. What is John Ball's response to Crispin's request.

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Crispin get away from Aycliffe?

2. Why does Crispin spy on Bear and what does he hear?

3. What does Crispin decide to do after he gets away from Aycliffe?

4. How does Aycliffe get killed?

5. Why does Crispin follow Bear to a meeting, and what does he hear as he listens outside the door?

6. Who does Crispin find at the White Stag, what does he tell them and what is their response?

7. How do the men in the meeting get away from the soldiers, and what happens to Bear?

8. Where do Crispin and Bear stay, what does Bear tell Crispin to do when he leaves and what does Crispin do?

9. What does Widow Daventry do when she sees Crispin in the common room and how does Bear feel about her actions?

10. What happens when Bear and Crispin reach the gate at Great Wexley and how does Crispin feel about being inside the city?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Avi.

2. What in Avi's background may have helped him in writing "Crispin: The Cross of Lead"? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 2

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and sometimes it is the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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