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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 writing tense does the author use to tell Ellen's story?

2. At the grave site, who does Ellen avoid looking at?

3. In Ellen's new life with her new mama, what runs smoothly?

4. How many siblings does Ellen have at her new mother's house?

5. What method does Ellen consider using to kill someone?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Ellen's former life and her new life an example of dualism?

2. Why does Ellen feel that her relatives are phonies?

3. In what ways does Ellen justify not telling anyone about the circumstances of her mother's death?

4. How is Ellen wearing her mother's clothes symbolic to the story?

5. In what ways does the author indicate that Ellen's father killed Ellen's mother?

6. What are some of the fun and leisure activities Ellen is granted in her new home?

7. Why does Ellen feel that she is better off being a ward of the county rather than being in the custody of her father?

8. In Chapter 2, how does Ellen hint at favoritism towards her mother's family?

9. In Chapter 1, Ellen contemplates killing someone. How does Ellen plan to kill this person and respond to the death if she actually goes through with it?

10. How is the pony's name, Dolphin, a symbol of freedom to Ellen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

List and discuss several ways that Ellen's character evolved throughout the novel.

Essay Topic 2

In two instances of the story Ellen describes her Christmas celebrations. Compare and contrast the two occasions using details from the text as an aid.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the story Ellen is neglected by her father. Write a description of how her father neglected her and the effects of the neglect on Ellen's life.

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