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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. Why does Dru stare out the window in Tom's car?

2. What does Elisa do when Dru shows her the mangled boot?

3. What does Scooter say jumping off the Nail does?

4. How are most of the kids that are there known to each other?

5. What would Diane like Mike to do at college on the weekends?

Short Essay Questions

1. Whose house does Dru pass and what does she think when she passes it?

2. How does Diane feel about Mike?

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

4. Why is Dru different from the other teenagers at the Nail, what rumor does one teen say to Dru?

5. What does Hopi say about jumping?

6. What does Mike say about his father and Dru's mother in the car?

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

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

9. What do Scooter and Elisa bring to the Nail with them, how is Scooter feeling, how does Elisa react to Dru and what does Scooter go do?

10. What does Dru want to do once she and Mike get back to the top of the Nail, who is Hopi and what does he give Dru?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "Jumping the Nail". Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Bunting chooses the symbols she does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Bunting chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Bunting's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliffhangers, deux ex machina, etc.), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Bunting use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme.)

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Elisa represents the battered woman. She has battered woman syndrome in an emotional sense. She does not see how Scooter really treats her and accepts the emotional abuse as part of her life. Even when Dru points out his controlling number counting, Elisa defends him. She chooses to be emotionally abused and Dru remembers that other people see this too, as she remembers Tom's comment.

1. With research, discuss why Elisa displays the symptoms of an emotionally battered woman. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think Scooter's behavior towards Elisa is controlling or do you think it is typical teenage male behavior? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Discuss what you would say to a good friend who was in a relationship where their significant other abused them emotionally or degraded them as a person. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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