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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 kind of prescription did Chris finally get after more than 25 years of struggling with addiction?

2. How old was Smarsh when it was decided she would live mostly with Betty and Arnie?

3. Who were Dorothy's parents?

4. What serious problem did Nick's second wife have?

5. In Chapter 4, why does Smarsh's father strike her?

Short Essay Questions

1. What were some of the government assistance programs Smarsh and her brother benefitted from as children?

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

3. What does it mean to Smarsh when Arnie tells her in Part III that she is smart?

4. In Part IV, what did Ray once offer to do for Betty that was criminal but that Betty tells Smarsh she considered?

5. Why does Smarsh go to live with her grandparents just before turning 11?

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

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

8. What does Smarsh learn from her father Nick regarding houses?

9. In Part IV, what was Betty's husband Bob like to both her and Jeannie?

10. What happens to Betty's mother in Part IV that has a negative effect on Betty and her young siblings at the time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

By Part V of the book, what kind of relationship does Smarsh share with her mother Jeannie? Write an essay explaining your answer, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Write an essay analyzing Smarsh's complex feelings about being identified as an academically "gifted" child and her confusion over her family's discomfort with the designation, citing specific references to the text to help support your answers.

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