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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. With whom is Hector fascinated?

2. What do Debbie and Patty want their jeans to be like?

3. What does Lenny teach Debbie?

4. What does Hector vow?

5. Who is Rowanne?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Debbie experience a response to physical contact with Hector?

2. How does Debbie get sunburned, and who was she with when it happens?

3. What does Debbie see in her sister's magazine, and what does she think about when she sees it?

4. What kind of book is Debbie reading, and what does she think about the book and its relevance to her life?

5. Where does Rowanne take Hector, and what interests him there?

6. How do Debbie and Patty get their pants to look the way they want?

7. What does Hector's first lesson involve and what disappoints him about that lesson?

8. Where is Lenny being steered in school, how does he manifest this in his life outside of school and what habit does he pick up?

9. What experience does Debbie get with mechanical work?

10. What are Debbie and Patty discussing in Chapter Ten and what is their question?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Criss Cross" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Criss Cross" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "Criss Cross". Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Perkins chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Perkins chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Perkins's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliffhangers, deux ex machina, etc.), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Perkins use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and sometimes it is the other way around. 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 "Criss Cross" is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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