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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 lessons does Lola think Virgil should start?

2. Who does Virgil see in the Super Saver in Chapter 8 that makes him nervous and excited?

3. In Chapter 6, what is Virgil's response to Chet's ridicule?

4. What is Valencia's last name?

5. What does Kaori tell Gen they have to prepare for Virgil's appointment in Chapter 4?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 1, why does Lola suspect that Virgil is looking upset?

2. How does Virgil feel about the fact that his family has nicknamed him Turtle?

3. What kind of advice does Virgil seek from Kaori Tanaka, and who is Kaori?

4. Who is the student from Virgil's school who bullies him, and what does the bully usually say?

5. How does Valencia feel about her own name?

6. In Chapter 17, how and why does Virgil end up trapped in the old well in the woods?

7. Why does Valencia think of Chet Bullens as "Scrunch"?

8. Why does Virgil's family nickname him Turtle?

9. What does Kaori text to Valencia in Chapter 9 to try to convince Valencia of the reason she sounds older than 12 years old?

10. What kind of a chart does Kaori have that she explains to Gen in Chapter 14?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Which characters in the book does Valencia identify as being particularly mindful of her "How-tos," or her simple set of three rules for making it easier for her to understand what people are saying to her? What does it mean to Valencia when people respect her request and make an effort to try to communicate effectively with her?

Essay Topic 2

Why do you think Kelly chooses to write Valencia's chapters from the first-person point of view and Virgil's from the third-person point of view? What effect do you think her alternation between viewpoints from different characters has on the reader?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing the different kinds of biases, bigotry and ill treatment Valencia has encountered in her young life so far due to her deafness, from both strangers and supposed friends.

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This section contains 649 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample