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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. How old was Smarsh's Grandma Teresa when the Equal Rights Amendment was introduced in Congress?

2. What kind of program does Smarsh's teacher recommend her for in Chapter 4?

3. In Chapter 5, how much did Nick pay in rent for 16 years for his apartment?

4. What did Jeannie tell Smarsh was the smartest investment in real estate?

5. What happened in Chapter 6 when Dorothy tracked Aaron down to ask for child support?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did the family of Vietnamese immigrants do to express their gratitude for Jeannie's help getting them their house?

2. Why does Smarsh think being poor carries such a unique kind of shame in America?

3. Why was school so much better for Smarsh in Wichita than it had been at her old school?

4. In Part IV, how does Bob break Betty's heart?

5. What habit does Smarsh pick up in Part III that she sometimes tells God she will try to stop?

6. What happens that leads to Nick losing his house in Part IV?

7. What was one reason Bob found it fairly easy to get full custody of his and Betty's son in Part IV?

8. How does Smarsh win an essay contest in fifth grade in Part III?

9. What does Smarsh say is a big differences between the poor and the middle-and-upper-class families who make mistakes?

10. What made Betty's poverty more tolerable to other people, in Smarsh's opinion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does Arnie's death reveal about Smarsh's place in her family and her relationship with them as she ages? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 2

What kinds of influences did Smarsh's various teachers have on her life while she was growing up, in both positive and negative ways? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How does Smarsh feel about the way the media generally portrays white, working class, and rural people like her family? Write an essay explaining your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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