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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 Dru tell Tom about what Elisa saw?

2. What is Elisa doing because of shock?

3. What does Scooter make Elisa do?

4. Why does Dru get annoyed at Mike's younger sister?

5. How does Dru's mother feel about going to dinner in Chapter 14?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Elisa want Dru to warn Tom about and what does Dru say to Tom?

2. Why does Dru get angry with her mother, what does she say and how does her mother respond?

3. What does MIke tell Dru about Diane, Tom and Hopi?

4. What does Dru say to Elisa about Scooter and what does she realize about Diane when she says it?

5. What does Claire ask Dru about Diane?

6. What does Tom announce when the music stops and what does Diane do after the announcement?

7. Where has Dru and her family been invited, how does her mother react to the invitation and how does Dru feel about it?

8. What does Mike say to Elisa about his feelings towards her?

9. What does Mike ask Dru out on the terrace, and what is her response?

10. What is Diane wearing to the celebration, what does she proclaim Scooter and Elisa and with what does she present them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dru is a bit guilty of catering to her boyfriend, just like Elisa. Mike is not controlling, but she will do certain things for him. She goes to the Spindrift, though she does not feel like it. She wears her hair the way he likes it. She looks longingly at her new clothes for Northwestern, a place that represents distance from Mike. In a subliminal way, Mike gets in her head. And she submits to what he wants.

1. Do you think it is positive or negative behavior to do certain things for another person even if you don't necessarily want to do them yourself? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think there is a part of Dru who believes she is giving up too much of herself to date Mike? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Do you think the female in a relationship tends to give up more than the male? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Jumping the Nail falls in the genre called youth. Discuss the following:

1. What is the definition of genre? Youth genre? How do you know "Jumping the Nail" falls in the genre of youth novel? Give examples.

2. Other than entertainment, why do you think people might read youth novel?

3. Fantasy is sometimes considered second-rate fiction--i.e. that it is not good enough to be studied in academe. Why do you think this is true? Do you think it is a valid argument?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of "Jumping the Nail", identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement.) Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in "Jumping the Nail". (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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