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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. Who was one of Betty's sisters?

2. Who was Carl's wife who Jeannie was sent to live with in Chapter 5?

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

4. What does Smarsh note that President Bill Clinton was known for in Chapter 4?

5. Who was Jeannie's new boyfriend in Part IV?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why were Smarsh and her brother embarrassed when their father drove them to school in Part III?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 5, on page 200, Smarsh's father Nick tells her a parable about a hard-working carpenter who intentionally does a shoddy job on a house for the first time in his life, only to have his supervisor hand him the keys to the house as a reward for his years of hard work. Write an essay exploring the meaning of this story as it relates specifically to Smarsh's family's situation and outlook on work, poverty, and opportunity.

Essay Topic 2

What are some of the lessons Betty, Smarsh's grandmother, taught Smarsh about work and work ethic while Smarsh was growing up? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 3

How did losing, and then reconnecting many years later, with her son Bo (Robert) affect Betty? Write an essay explaining your answer, citing specific references to the text to help support your claims.

(see the answer keys)

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