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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. For what is Hector looking in the crowd at the celebration?

2. What festival is coming up in the teens' hometown?

3. What has Hector forgotten?

4. What is Debbie doing as she hears Lenny and his father's conversation?

5. Where are Debbie's mother's mementos?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Debbie and Patty doing while looking at the yearbook and what is Debbie thinking about when she looks at her own picture in the yearbook?

2. What is Peter's father's response to Mrs. Bruning's objections? How are his objections handled?

3. What subject does Peter's father approach with Mrs. Bruning and what is her response?

4. What book is Debbie reading in Chapter 22 and what does she think about the book and her life compared to the life of the protagonist in the book?

5. Who is at the Tastee Freez when the guitar lesson group arrives there and how does Hector feel about the class going to the Tastee Freez?

6. What happens when Debbie comes to Mrs. Bruning's house on Saturday immediately after Mrs. Bruning awakens?

7. With what class is Patty struggling and what does she feel from the knowledge she has learned in this class?

8. What is Mrs. Bruning's response about Debbie, and what does Mrs. Bruning give Debbie?

9. What has Debbie convinced her mother of, and what does she find in her mother's mementos box?

10. What do Peter and Debbie decide to do after Mrs. Bruning is taken to the hospital?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Criss Cross" belongs to the young adult novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the young adult novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young adult novel and a historical novel mystery?

Essay Topic 2

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 Lynne Rae Perkins.

2. What in Perkins's background may have helped her in writing "Criss Cross"? What may have influenced the way she 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 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "Criss Cross".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of "Criss Cross". How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of "Criss Cross". How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

(see the answer keys)

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