View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was Baby's real name?

2. Why is Miss Pettibone aggravated with all the girls at lunch time?

3. Why do Willa Jo and Little Sister decide to sit on the bench outside the drugstore?

4. What does Uncle Hob recall about the summer he spent with his grandfather?

5. Miss Pettibone threatens to call the girls' mothers if they don't _____________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do all the other girls blame Willa Jo when Miss Pettibone gets upset with them?

2. What type of painting did Noreen create which she hoped would help the girls understand Baby's death?

3. Why does Aunt Patty suggest taking the girls home with her for awhile and how does Willa Jo secretly feel about it?

4. Explain the symbolism of Willa Jo's dream and why Willa Jo is so angry.

5. What message is Uncle Hob hoping the girls get from his story about staying with his grieving grandfather?

6. What behavior was Noreen exhibiting that showed her depression and why was Willa Jo happy that Aunt Patty arrived?

7. What type of emotion does Aunt Patty show when she asks if Little Sister had drunk any of the water at the carnival?

8. What recurring dream does Willa Jo have and what does she do upon waking?

9. How do Aunt Patty and Uncle Hob differ in their approaches to relating to the girls?

10. Why do Aunt Patty and Uncle Hob seem to enjoy sitting on the roof with the girls?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the greatest lesson Willa Jo learns from Uncle Hob? Is it true that important lessons are also painful ones? What will Willa Jo always recall about Uncle Hob and how he was able to reach out to her that summer?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the role of women in the American South during the 20th century. What precedents did these women feel compelled to follow? What restrictions did they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century women do not have? How were their lives significantly more difficult than the lives of 21st century women?

Essay Topic 3

Grief takes on an almost human persona in this book. What was the source of the family's grief? What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,289 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample