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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 does Nancy really want to be?

2. What is Nancy's favorite special word?

3. What is engraved on the piece of jewelry Nancy gives Lew?

4. What grade teacher comes by Nancy's house in September?

5. What do people call Red?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Nancy and her mom do at the beach?

2. What do Collin and Nancy do the Monday she skips school in April?

3. Why do Nancy and Lew exchange the locket and ring?

4. What does Nancy admire about her mom's Aunt Thelma?

5. Why is Nancy frustrated with the gaggle at the beginning of July?

6. When does Lew kiss Nancy for the first time?

7. Why does Nancy have trouble sleeping at the beginning of September?

8. How does Nancy react when she sees Collin walking with Margie Muller?

9. How does the barbecue at Lew's house give Nancy an idea of how she wants her and Lew's future to be?

10. What does the doctor tell Nancy when she visits the hospital in August?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The central conflict of the story is Nancy's diagnosis of HIV/AIDS. The story focuses on her contracting the disease and battling it until she dies. Write a response exploring the role of HIV/AIDS in the story. How is the disease presented? How does the disease's presence in the story shape the events of the book? Use specific references to the text in the response.

Essay Topic 2

Much of what occurs in It Happened to Nancy centers around the consequences of having sex. Write a response focusing on the theme of sex as portrayed in the story. Is sex positive or negative? What consequences are there? How do the characters deal with the consequences dealt to them? Use specific references to the text in the response.

Essay Topic 3

It Happened to Nancy is presented as a non-fiction book told from Nancy's diary and edited by Beatrice Sparks with only identifying details changed. Write a response exploring whether or not the book is truly a work of non-fiction. What elements of the story suggest it is true? Is there anything present in the book that might not be true? Use specific references to the text in the response.

(see the answer keys)

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