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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 Mina confide to Dicey are her problems?

2. What does the doctor say to Dicey that provokes her anger and grief?

3. Who is the person that shows up on Saturday as a surprise when Dicey is working on the boat?

4. What does the teacher emphasize as the most important aspect of the essay project?

5. How does Dicey explain to Mina that she is able to work a job while underage?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is it about Gram not telling Dicey any advance information about the trip to Boston or Momma's condition that shows Gram's state of mind?

2. What does Dicey discover as a result of the last minute shopping duties suggested by Gram?

3. When Jeff shows up uninvited at the barn, what does the conclusion of the day indicate about Dicey's progress.

4. What does Dicey learn from Mina about Gram that a new person to town most likely would not know for awhile?

5. What family perspective concerning Momma occurs to Dicey as she does the Christmas shopping focused on each family member?

6. What does Mr. Limgerle being a Thanksgiving dinner guest demonstrate is happening with the family?

7. Mina rises to Dicey's defense for two reasons, one of which is she personally likes Dicey. What is the other reason?

8. What does Gram tell Dicey about life when she hears about how Mina defended Dicey in front of the teacher and the class.

9. When the humiliation in the classroom ends, Dicey wordlessly takes her essay from the teacher and leaves the room without expressing her thoughts. What are Dicey's thoughts at that point?

10. What is the purpose and the outcome of Gram's visit to Sammy's school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author presents four kids from the same Tillerman lineage, yet two opposite personality types. Cite several instances that contrast the more reserved acceptance seeking personalities of James and Maybeth versus the combative assertive personalities of Dicey and Sammy.

Essay Topic 2

Setting and circumstances of Gram are central to the development of the kids progress as they settle in at the farm. Gram's isolation at the farm and minimalist life style are two factors. Provide a typical day to day description of Gram's week at the farm at a point several months before the kids appear on the scene.

Essay Topic 3

Gram passes along a number of ideas to Dicey about coping with life. Describe three instances where the character Mr. Lingerle is used by the author to demonstrate Gram's advice in action.

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