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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 Starletta fascinated with at Ellen's new home?

2. What does Ellen tell her Aunt Nadine she would like for Christmas?

3. Who is Ellen's imaginary boyfriend?

4. Why doesn't Jo Jo have to participate in the after-church activity?

5. What is the only thing that Dora doesn't have?

Short Essay Questions

1. During Ellen's Christmas stay at Nadine's, what does Ellen hope for?

2. Why does Ellen feel that Starletta only likes Tom for his money?

3. What are some of the family secrets that Ellen uncovers/discovers while Ellen is living with her grandmother?

4. In what ways does Ellen's grandmother display paranoia?

5. Why do Ellen and Starletta keep a list?

6. Using details from the text, describe how Ellen spends her time at Nadine's house.

7. Using details from the text, describe Ellen and her grandmother's relationship.

8. Ellen's grandmother forces Ellen to go to work. Describe Ellen's job duties.

9. Using detail from the text to support your answer, why does Ellen decide to treat Nadine's residence like a hotel?

10. In Chapter 8, how is the reader once again introduced to the time frame of the novel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Using the text and class discussions as an aid describe some of Ellen's fears and how she overcame them.

Essay Topic 2

In class discussion, you learned about the literary elements of a climax. Using these discussions and the text, describe the climax in the story.

Essay Topic 3

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

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