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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. Why does Lydia and Tom's family move to a different house?

2. What does Sammie drop when Dencey throws a rock at him?

3. What is the name of Lydia and Tom's baby boy?

4. What did the people of Nantucket rely on to make their living?

5. Tom brought Dency sea shells and a _________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What tragedies befall Martha White's family, and what does Lydia do to help?

2. How soon after his last letter does Tom return home?

3. How does the author describe Nantucket in Chapter 7?

4. What is the family's response to Tom's homecoming, and what shock is in store for Tom regarding the size of his family now?

5. What does Dencey learn about Sammie's home life when she finds him at Injun Jill's?

6. Why is Lydia so concerned about the strength of Dencey's religious faith?

7. How does Dencey react to Sammie's vulnerability, and what plan does she need to make for what she wants to do to help Sammie now?

8. How does Sammie react to Dencey and her mission of forgiveness?

9. Explain the class system on Nantucket.

10. What is Dencey's plan to get Sammie to forgive her and what risk does she take if she carries it out?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the greatest lesson Dencey learns in the book? Is it true that important lessons are also painful ones? What will Dencey always recall about her mother's admonitions? What impact did Aunt Lovesta have on Dencey's life? What would Dencey consider to be her best decision?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the significance of the book's title. What does the author mean by calling it simply DOWNRIGHT DENCEY. What is she trying to emphasize with this emphatic style? Suggest three alternate titles for this book with supporting rationale for each one.

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study of Injun Jill. What did she look like? What were her positive personality traits? What were her dreams and fears? What was most valuable to her in her world?

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