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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 is the class reaction when Mr. Chappelle concludes reading Mina's essay?

2. What is Millie's reaction to singing and guitar playing in the store?

3. What is Dicey's reaction when Jeff comes in to the market?

4. Who is the real life person that Dicey chose to write about for her essay?

5. Who stops to talk a moment about school as Dicey is washing the market windows?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Dicey tell Jeff in response to his invitation to the dance?

3. What does Mr. Lingerle talk about during dinner that shows he truly is concerned about the Tillerman family?

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

5. What does the English teacher comment about Dicey's essay that she refuses to respond to?

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

7. What do Dicey's decisions about accepting a ride from Jeff but refusing to invite him in the house say about Dicey's attitude?

8. 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?

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

10. The home economics teacher Miss Eversleigh gives a short speech about how important it is to know the life skills she is teaching in class. What is Dicey's reaction to the speech?

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

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 3

Discuss the premise that waging physical battle against rumors, lies and false ideas historically has not led to change of those factors and solutions always lie in a different direction. How does this basic premise relate to Sammy and his struggles of acceptance?

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This section contains 812 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample