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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. In Chapter 22, Tara is how far into her therapy?

2. What is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings and physical well-being?

3. In Chapter 23, Tara says that she has figured out the dream she had at the beginning of the novel: The monster she was afraid of was what?

4. How many times does Greta say she's been suspended for protecting Tara in Chapter 14?

5. Looking out at the audience, Tara recalls a story about her grandmother and mother freezing onstage at what in Chapter 13?

Short Essay Questions

1. What conflict takes place between Tara and her father in Chapter 17?

2. What fortunes are read by Tara's family at the Chinese restaurant in Chapter 16?

3. How does Tara describe her experience in the Christmas play in Chapter 13?

4. How has Tara's emotional life evolved in Chapter 13?

5. How does Tara describe her family in Chapter 23?

6. What does Mr. Jacobson make of Tara in Chapter 17? What questions does he ask her?

7. What does Sam bring Tara in Chapter 22? Why?

8. How does Tara's mother feel after taking Tara to a doctor in Chapter 15? How has Tara's behavior progressed?

9. How does Tara's treatment with Susan Leopardi begin in Chapter 20?

10. How does Christmas Day end for Tara in Chapter 14?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and analyze Tara's experience at the carnival in Chapter 10. In what ways is this a pinnacle of demoralization for Tara? How does Tara's mother feel about her behavior? How does Tara's father react to the situation? What major lesson does Tara learn?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss stereotypes in the novel and in real life. How realistic are the characters of Keesha, Kristin and Anna? Are these stereotypes realistic depictions of people you can relate to? Why or why not? Is there a basis in the stereotypes? Are they simply Tara's way of identifying people?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss both religious allusion and the narrative voice in the novel. Is the novel written in present or past tense? From whose point of view? What religion is Tara? How does she feel about her religion? Why does Tara find solace in religion?

(see the answer keys)

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