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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 Tara ask her teacher in Chapter 21?

2. Where is Kristin in Chapter 21?

3. How old was Tara when she first heard "Step on a crack, break your mother's back"?

4. Tara blames her friend's pregnancy on whom in Chapter 23?

5. Tara's new psychiatrist tells her to think about her parents being dead how many times a day in Chapter 20?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What treatment does Dr. Leopardi suggest in Chapter 19? How difficult does she tell Tara it will be?

3. What does Tara go with Donna to purchase in Chapter 20? Why?

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

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

6. How does Tara feel about Sam's impending visit in Chapter 18? How does she greet him?

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

8. How does Tara describe her relationship with Sam in Chapter 23? How has Tara grown by the novel's end?

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

10. What do Tara and Donna spend Christmas doing in Chapter 14? What does Tara ask Donna?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the element of sexuality in the novel. How do Donna and Tara's views on sexuality differ? When before has Tara discussed sexuality? What is the result of Donna's having unprotected sex? Who does Tara blame for Donna's pregnancy?

Essay Topic 2

Define and identify dramatic irony and the tragic hero in narrative literature. How many different types of irony are there, and why does dramatic irony fit the situation in Chapter 3? Why is Tara's character tragic? What is ironic about her situation with her friends and family?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the family of Donna to Tara's family. How are Donna's parents similar to Tara's? How do they differ? How does Donna feel about her mother versus her father? Do these feelings correspond to Tara's? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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