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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 advice does Dicey sharply deliver to James about school and fitting in?

2. What comment by James causes Dicey to understand why James is brooding?

3. What makes Dicey doubt that Maybeth might be retarded?

4. What do the young children do on Halloween when Gram and Dicey are not home?

5. What does Dicey do at the store on the first work Saturday that seems to make a big difference?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Dicey's thinking impacted when she learns Millie cannot read?

2. Why does Dicey stop to listen to Jeff play the guitar and sing, but never says much or stays very long?

3. What does Sammy striving to be the perfect student ultimately lead to?

4. What action does Gram take that signals maybe there is a chance for a stable future in Maryland?

5. Dicey manages to do well in most of her classes but what is it that nags at her full enjoyment?

6. Why does Gram insist upon first telling only Dicey about what the teachers had to say?

7. What does Gram's insistence about buying a jumper and a dress indicate?

8. When Sammy insist upon helping work on the sailboat, why does Dicey get irritated?

9. What does Gram taking Dicey on the shopping trip indicate?

10. Why is Dicey not pleased with having to shop for bras?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is a recurring theme of stubborn independence and striving that appears in each of the Tillermans like a wood grain pattern, sometimes clear and strong and in other instances lighter and less intense. Discuss each, citing examples ranking from the strongest such streak to the weakest streak.

Essay Topic 2

When they are at the bedside of Momma, at separate times both Gram and Dicey take hold of Momma's hand and speak to Momma. Elaborate on the author's idea that holding on is not the same as steering, controlling, and directing.

Essay Topic 3

Dicey and her siblings made a journey toward the unknown in their summer travels from Massachusetts to Maryland. Once settled and things seem to be known and working out, Gram reverses the journey going from Maryland to Massachusetts and this time not disclosing what is known. Discuss how the two scenarios are the same and how each differs concerning the impact on Dicey.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 728 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample