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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In the Epilogue, what is Esme Codell's impression of Mr. Turner?
(a) Mr. Turner appears to have changed, and his speech was actually quite stirring.
(b) Mr. Turner is ogling young female teachers, which sickens Codell.
(c) Mr. Turner is the same prideful blowhard as ever.
(d) Mr. Turner is unusually reserved.

2. According to Jim Trelease, what kind of portrayal is Educating Esme, with respect to American education?
(a) Hyperbolic.
(b) Satirical.
(c) Realistic.
(d) Sentimental.

3. What animal does Melanie do her vertebrate report on?
(a) Hyena.
(b) Giraffe.
(c) Rat.
(d) Cat.

4. What kind of school did Esme transfer to after the school of her first year of teaching?
(a) A technical trade college.
(b) A suburban school with mostly minorities.
(c) A white, suburban school.
(d) A black, inner-city school.

5. Which best describes an aspect of Codell's philosophy of reading out loud to the class?
(a) Any difficult words should be immediately looked up in the dictionary.
(b) Each child should have a book, so they can follow along with the reading.
(c) The teacher should read words very slowly and loudly.
(d) The teacher should often stop to have discussions about the text.

6. How successful is the film Codell shows for sexual education?
(a) It sparks a valuable debate.
(b) It successfully answers most of the students' questions.
(c) It makes several students cry.
(d) It leads to more confusion than clarity.

7. What special guest(s) arrive(s) for the Storyteller Festival?
(a) Michael Jordan.
(b) Representatives from the foundation which gave Codell the grant for the festival.
(c) Members of the Chicago Board of Education.
(d) Connie Porter.

8. How long after the events in the journal does Codell write her Epilogue?
(a) Three weeks.
(b) Twelve years.
(c) Two months.
(d) Three years.

9. What does Codell secretly dream about being, rather than a teacher?
(a) Opera singer.
(b) Professional softball player.
(c) Television personality.
(d) Climatologist.

10. When do parents "throw a tantrum" at Esme's new school (as of the Epilogue)?
(a) When their kids get C's.
(b) When the football team fails to make the state finals.
(c) When not enough extracurricular activities are available.
(d) When their kids get F's.

11. Why is Ozzie becoming ill at school?
(a) Ozzie has been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
(b) Ozzie's nausea is purely psychosomatic.
(c) Fearful of going hungry, Ozzie eats several hamburgers at a time during lunch.
(d) Ozzie is eating Elmer's glue.

12. What is Mr. Turner's criticism of the Storyteller Festival?
(a) The students don't seem involved, and Codell should probably have chosen better stories.
(b) The stories chosen are much too long.
(c) It is rowdy, and probably should have been held in the commons area and not the library.
(d) Codell is exploring race relations with the chosen stories, which is too adult a matter to deal with.

13. Why do Ozzie's grades plummet?
(a) His mother's ex-boyfriend is verbally and physically abusive.
(b) Ozzie has joined a gang.
(c) Ozzie has developed dyslexia.
(d) Ozzie is malnourished.

14. How long did Esme Codell work at the first school she taught at?
(a) Ten years.
(b) One year.
(c) As of the Epilogue, she continues to teach there to this day.
(d) Two years.

15. Why is Latoya consistently late to school in the second week of April?
(a) Latoya's mother has been beating her, and she cannot get out of bed until late every morning.
(b) Latoya is silently protesting the idea of coming to school.
(c) She is now living with her biological father, and must take a bus instead of walking.
(d) Her family has been moved to a shelter, and she must take the train instead of walking.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to the educational chiropractor, how many units can a teacher teach per school year?

2. In the Epilogue, what emotion does Esme associate with her former students?

3. What is Codell's response when Rowisha tells her about B. B.'s horrible home life?

4. Why does B. B. start to misbehave around 1:20 PM every day?

5. Of her thirty-one students, how many graduate from middle school at the ceremony Codell witnesses?

(see the answer keys)

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