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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. Who invites Cece to come across the street to help her make "dirt soup" (121)?

2. What consequence does Mrs. Sinklemann say she will be providing in response to Cece's cheating behavior?

3. When Mike tells Cece that he will be in Mrs. Sinklemann's class, who else says that they also will be Mrs. Sinklemann's class?

4. Though Cece says that during the summer she sometimes jumps on the trampoline by herself, she says that she usually jumps with which character?

5. Where has Cece's father been when he brings her back a present from his trip?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Cece come to be tasked with the mission of telling the class when Mrs. Sinklemann is returning to the classroom?

2. What is ironic about Martha's reasons for breaking off her friendship with Cece?

3. For what reason does Cece begin to laugh helplessly while onstage in front of the whole school?

4. What visual element does Cece Bell often use to indicate the overwhelming nature of being able to hear words while not being able to understand them?

5. How does Bell employ suspense within the scenes when Cece is preparing to take her new curly pencil with her to school the next day?

6. What change leads to all but one of Cece's grades improving considerably?

7. When Cece again spends time with Ginny after a long time apart, what is one thing about Ginny that Cece says is the same and what is one thing about Ginny that Cece says is different?

8. How does Bell characterize El Deafo's reaction to Cece's decision to talk to Mike about her Phonic Ear?

9. What unexpected benefit does Cece receive when trying out her new glasses for the first time?

10. Describe Cece's conflicted feelings about Mike's kind treatment.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Read the three-page section at the end of the novel entitled A Note From the Author. Analyze and discuss a particular theme in El Deafo that became clearer to you once you read this section and discuss why all readers of El Deafo should read this appendix inclusion.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the instances of irony within the narrative of Cece Bell's graphic novel memoir El Deafo and analyze the author's purpose for including each instance you discuss.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's choice to tell the story of Cece Bell's graphic novel memoir El Deafo using the first person point-of-view. What elements of the novel's themes lend themselves to this choice and what is the author's intended effect on the reader?

(see the answer keys)

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