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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 part of his body did Pete claim his father broke before his death?

2. Which of the following was NOT something Charlie burned in a bonfire during her mental breakdown?

3. What did Pete tell the girls was the most dangerous part of a man-of-war jellyfish?

4. During what month of the year were the construction projects in the Karr family home complete, allowing for Grandma Moore to finally move in?

5. What was streaked all over the mirrors and windows in the house on the day Charlie went missing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Pete's reaction to the news that his daughters would be coming to stay with him full-time?

2. After leaving the hospital, how did Charlie react when visiting the Houston Zoo?

3. What story did Pete regularly tell about the way his father died?

4. What happened during the fight between Mary and Big Bertha?

5. What did Mary believe to be the most traumatic memory of her childhood?

6. What happened while Mary was reading the book Charlotte's Web while staying home sick from school?

7. What traumatic event occurred while Mary and her family were driving from Leechfied to Lubbock in the hopes of outrunning the storm?

8. What happened when Mary and Lecia were sent to spend the evening overnight with Hector's sister, Alecia?

9. What was Lecia's reaction to the news that Grandma Moore had died?

10. What happened to Mary while she was out at the bar with Pete during her school vacation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout much of Mary's childhood, Charlie is deeply depressed. First, explain what traumatic event first sparked Charlie's deep depression. Then, give at least two examples from the text that you believe best exhibit the ways Charlie expressed her depression. Finally, explain how Charlie's depression affected the way Mary learned to deal with her emotions. How do the effects of Charlie's depression still affect Mary today?

Essay Topic 2

One of the main issues Mary struggled with throughout her childhood was feeling competitive with her sister, Lecia. First, explain the relationship between Mary and Lecia in their early childhood. What elements of their personalities were pitted against each other for competition? Then, explain how the relationship between Mary and Lecia changed when their mother was committed. How did the competitive nature of the relationship between the two sister alter once their mother was no longer in the home? Be sure to include at least two examples of scenes from the memoir to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

The Karr family's move to Colorado signals a real change in the relationship between Charlie and Pete. First, explain why the family decided to move to Colorado in the first place. Then, describe how this motivation signals a shift in the balance of power between Charlie and Pete. How do you see this relationship change carry out through the family's time in Colorado? Be sure to include at least two examples of scenes from the text that you believe help strengthen your argument.

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