View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is James' announcement that surprises Dicey and Gram?
(a) James intends to quit school and get a regular job to help with the finances.
(b) James has found a job for himself delivering newspapers.
(c) The family of a friend of James has offered to allow him to live there
(d) He is totally unhappy with his life because he does not fit in at school.

2. After some discussion among James, Gram, Mr. Lingerle and Dicey, what is the plan agreed upon for Maybeth.
(a) Maybeth needs more difficult word lists in order to progress.
(b) Mr. Lingerle will go to the library to do some research.
(c) James will go to the library to do some research.
(d) Maybeth needs more word lists to work on.

3. What makes Dicey doubt that Maybeth might be retarded?
(a) Maybeth knows she needs to improve and is determined to do so.
(b) Maybeth quietly understands her sister and brothers.
(c) Maybeth has demonstrated ability to learn music, melodies and song words.
(d) Maybeth usually struggles, but somehow always manages to keep up.

4. What is the message in the note from Maybeth's teacher?
(a) Maybeth is in danger of failing.
(b) Maybeth has been insulting to the teacher.
(c) The note requests a meeting the afternoon of the next day.
(d) Maybeth's classroom conduct is out of control.

5. Who is softly playing at the piano keys after dinner trying to harmonize a song tune?
(a) Maybeth.
(b) Gram.
(c) Dicey.
(d) James.

6. What is Maybeth able to do at school that Dicey is determined not to do?
(a) Maybeth works harder than every other student in her class.
(b) Maybeth develops a respect for teachers that Dicey cannot seem to do.
(c) Maybeth is making friends at school.
(d) Maybeth sits and reads for hours at the school library.

7. What thought occurs to Dicey as she watches Sammy fill in at James' job?
(a) The process of holding on to a person is time consuming.
(b) Sammy has a light, pleasant spirit that attracts others to him.
(c) Sammy is actually too young to fill in for James properly.
(d) Sammy is growing up too fast.

8. What is Gram's announcement concerning finances?
(a) Maryland County Trust Bureau wants to visit the family, possibly to provide funding.
(b) They must go on welfare in order to make ends meet.
(c) The insurance company has denied a cash settlement for the family.
(d) The insurance company has approved a cash settlement for the family.

9. What is it about Gram that Dicey realizes when she notices how Gram reacts to Maybeth's lateness?
(a) Gram actually resents the responsibility thrust upon her.
(b) Gram seems to be growing stronger and more determined every day.
(c) Gram does not have a plan or know how to cope with life.
(d) Gram is now made vulnerable to the world as a result of taking in the children.

10. What thought occurs to Dicey as she watches James try to calm Maybeth?
(a) Dicey realizes James has uncommon sensitivity about failure.
(b) Dicey realizes James is not capable of understanding others.
(c) Dicey realizes James is an emotional bully.
(d) Part of holding on to a person was letting each do things their own way.

11. Who is the subject of the long letter mailed from Boston to Gram?
(a) Maybeth.
(b) Dicey's father.
(c) James.
(d) Dicey's mother.

12. What is Gram's reaction to all the paperwork about welfare assistance?
(a) She intentionally omits much detail.
(b) She cannot do it so gives it all back to the lawyer.
(c) She finds the papers complicated and tells Dicey she needs her help.
(d) She refuses to respond to the personal questions.

13. What is Dicey's assessment of her new school and classes?
(a) School day is long, slow, and boring
(b) School is a fun filled, safe haven from the real world.
(c) School day is a whirl of thinking and doing.
(d) School day is a series of posturing, posing, and pretending.

14. What additional task does Dicey take on at the store when Millie struggles?
(a) Dicey will open the store in the mornings before school.
(b) Dicey will make a few home deliveries on her route home after work.
(c) Dicey volunteers to do the ordering since Millie has difficulty reading.
(d) Dicey will close the store in the evenings after dinner.

15. What does Dicey like to do for solitary relaxation each afternoon?
(a) She likes to sit in Gram's wooden rocker on the porch.
(b) She likes to sit on the hill overlooking the bay.
(c) She looks forward to working on the boat alone each afternoon.
(d) She likes to nap in the tall grass behind the barn.

Short Answer Questions

1. What has happened to Maybeth that brings her to uncontrollable sobbing?

2. What is the first thing Gram announces when she finishes reading the letter?

3. What does the nun at day camp recommend concerning Maybeth's learning progress?

4. What image of her mother comes to her mind as Dicey is sitting alone on the dock at sunset?

5. What specific words in the song Dicey hears cause her to stop and concentrate for the meaning?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 983 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample