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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 is Nadine's response to the drive through this part of town?

2. Who is the only member of Starletta's family who can read?

3. What does Ellen's friend's family sometimes eat?

4. What is Ellen's father's name?

5. Who does Ellen blame for her mother's death?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. In Chapter 6, how does Ellen's prejudiced nature show up?

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

4. In what ways has Ellen's mother's family shown that they do not care if Ellen is being neglected?

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

6. Why does Ellen have to make sure that she retrieves the envelope of money from the mailbox before her father can get to it?

7. Why does Ellen have conflicting views about Starletta's family?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Compare and contrast the elements of Ellen's personality. How does Ellen exhibit a dualism in her personality?

Essay Topic 3

Using the context clues located in the story, how can the reader determine the setting even though the author and narrator never explicitly provides the reader with the information?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 534 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample