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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. Ellen has to go shopping for new clothes. What new item does she treasure the most?

2. Where does someone show up looking for Ellen?

3. Why doesn't Ellen buy Nadine and Dora gifts for Christmas?

4. What one thing does Ellen not do for her mother?

5. After her grandmother's death, whose room does Ellen have to stay in at her new residence?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Ellen express a lack of belonging throughout Chapters 1-8?

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

3. Why didn't Dora want to tell Ellen about Dora and Nadine's usual Christmas ritual?

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

5. Using details from the text, describe Ellen's shopping system.

6. Why is Ellen worried about her grandmother dying?

7. What types of new experiences is Ellen exposed to at her stay with Julia and Roy?

8. In Chapter 10 the reader is introduced to Ellen's naivety. Even though Ellen is wise beyond her years, what does Ellen think about the sharecroppers who work on her grandmother's farm?

9. How does Ellen celebrate her 11th birthday?

10. Why do Ellen and Starletta keep a list?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

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 the details from the text and class discussions, discuss the ways that Ellen trusted and distrusted the people in her weak support system.

(see the answer keys)

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