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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 Ruby want to do when Cora and Jamie go to sleep?

2. What does Ruby say she intends to refuse?

3. Who is Melissa West?

4. What sort of jobs did Ruby's mother hold?

5. What does Ruby say about Gervais?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ruby learn at the fish store and what fish does Ruby choose?

2. What does Ruby say about Gervais at the beginning of this chapter?

3. What discussion does Ruby have with Cora about the bus system?

4. What happens when Nate takes Ruby back to her former home?

5. Describe the conversation between Cora and Ruby about Cora's wedding.

6. What discussion do Jaime and Mr. Thackray have when Jaime brings Ruby to enroll in school?

7. What does Ruby think about as far as her childhood before Cora leaves home?

8. Who does Ruby meet in her literature class, and what do the two have in common?

9. How is Ruby stopped the first night from running away?

10. What new ad campaign does Jaime dream up and what are Cora and Ruby's responses?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Lock and Key and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Lock and Key is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Lock and Key belongs to the young teen novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the young teen novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young teen novel and a historical novel mystery?

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of interesting questions raised by Lock and Key. Questions that Dessen most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of Dessen's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Dessen's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Dessen and see if/where her life may have influenced her writing.

(see the answer keys)

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