View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Tillie conclude about mutations at the end of her presentation at the science fair?

2. Ruth states that if anybody stuck Peter in a pot of boiling water, she would ...

3. What kind of transportation do the girls take to go to the science fair?

4. According to Tillie, the seeds which received little radiation ...

5. What does Beatrice do immediately after completing her second phone call in Act 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Beatrice kill the rabbit? What is her motivation? Is it an act of retaliation? If so, for what? What impact does this act have on Tillie and Ruth? What does the rabbit symbolize in the play?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the passage in which Beatrice calls herself the "original half-life." Does Beatrice have valid reasons for claiming this? What does this statement say about her attitude toward her daughters? How does this statement relate to the play's main themes? Can parallels be drawn between the true definition of a half-life and Beatrice's own life?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the concept of triumph in the face of adversity in Zindel's play.

a) Which character overcomes adversity? In what way is this achieved?

b) Give examples of some of the obstacles that this character faces throughout the course of the play.

c) What can be attributed to this character's ability to overcome adversity? How does this person cope and ultimately prevail despite difficult circumstances?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 341 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample