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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. How does Ellen refer to her large head?

2. What entertainment activity does Ellen's father entertain his guests with on New Year's Eve?

3. What color is the outfit Ellen is wearing to the funeral?

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

5. A drive through what part of town is necessary to reach the location where the funeral service is being held?

Short Essay Questions

1. At the funeral, why does Ellen avoid looking at her mother's grave?

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

3. Why does Ellen choose Starletta's parents when asked by the school board if Ellen has someone to take care of her?

4. How can a reader tell that Ellen may harbor some prejudices toward African American people?

5. What event leads to Ellen's removal from her father's care?

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

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

8. How does the fact that Ellen is concerned with snakes in her new life hint at how she feels about the members of her family?

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

10. How does Ellen's selection of gifts show that Ellen has to take responsibility for herself?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Using details from class discussions and from the text, describe how the author created a dualism in Ellen's life.

Essay Topic 2

Using details from the text and in-class research, describe how Ellen was mature, or immature, for her age.

Essay Topic 3

Using class discussion and the text as an aid describe some of Ellen's extended family relationships. Is there a closeness between the family? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 536 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample