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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. Where does Jeremy's mother do volunteer work?

2. What does Dru think about the houses in her neighborhood?

3. What is the distance from the Nail to the water?

4. How does Dru get to talk to Elisa?

5. What did Mike's father do when Dru's mother was married?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has Dru just finished, and what is she thinking about as she walks her dog looking at houses?

2. What is the Nail and who has been hurt on it?

3. What happens when Dru shows Elisa the mangled boot?

4. How is Elisa awoken after Dru had put her to bed and what does she do about Scooter's invitation? How does Dru react?

5. What happens when Scooter and Elisa jump and immediately after?

6. What does Scooter do while he is waiting for Elisa, what does Dru ask Elisa about Scooter's behavior and what is Elisa's response?

7. What is it like at the Nail right before Elisa and Scooter jump, what does Lizzie say and what does Mike do with Dru?

8. What does Dru do after Elisa falls asleep and how does she feel about her dad?

9. What does Scooter ask Mike and Dru to do, why does he ask them and what does Dru think of Scooter jumping?

10. What does Hopi say about jumping?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and sometimes it is the other way around. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "Jumping the Nail" is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

In some sense, most novels, deal with the concept of good and evil. Discuss the following:

1. What are the forces allied with "good" in Jumping the Nail's world and what forces are allied with "evil"?

2. How does one distinguish good from evil? How is good distinguished from evil in "Jumping the Nail"?

3.Is there a universal consensus on what constitutes good or evil? Why or why not?

4. Do you generally agree with the ideas of good and evil in "Jumping the Nail"? Why or why not?

5. What are several examples of good and evil in your culture? Do you agree with these ideas? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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