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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. When does Miranda ask her mother to cut her hair?

2. When does the natural gas run out?

3. What does Miranda eat when she gets up in Chapter 11?

4. For what birthday did Mrs. Nesbitt's husband give her a diamond pendant?

5. How far is the post office from Miranda's house?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Miranda eats food from the pantry?

2. What encouragement does Miranda's mom give Miranda on September 19?

3. Why does Mr. Mortensen come to Miranda's house in Chapter 18?

4. What does Miranda discover in town in Chapter 21?

5. What happens on Christmas eve?

6. What does Peter say about Miranda's mother's injury?

7. Why does Miranda decide to have her mother cut her hair in Chapter 14?

8. Where was Brandon Erlich when the asteroid hit and how did he get home?

9. In Chapter 19, what does Miranda learn when she goes to the hospital?

10. How does Miranda describe finding Mrs. Nesbitt when she dies in Chapter 16?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The mood in the novel changes from positive to negative. What is the overall mood in the novel? How does that affect the plot?

Essay Topic 2

Miranda tells the story in the novel from diary entries. Analyze the author’s choice to tell the story from Miranda’s point of view and from diary entries. How does viewing the events from Miranda’s point of view affect the plot?

Essay Topic 3

The world changes after the asteroid hits. How does civilization break down, and how does that affect the decisions and choices that people make?

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