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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 notice about Nate?

2. What does Ruby realize about a habit in the morning going into the school?

3. Why is there a line stretched across the kitchen?

4. What does Cora promise Ruby when Cora leaves home?

5. What is Ruby's word for her first assignment?

Short Essay Questions

1. What decision has Ruby made concerning living with Cora and Jaime, but how does she hedge her bets?

2. What does Ruby say about her life before Cora picked her up earlier that day?

3. Where does Ruby go from the mall and what important piece of information does Marshall gain from the encounter?

4. In what condition is the house that the Honeycutts own when they come by to check on the place and what do they do?

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

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

7. Who is Marshall and what kind of relationship do Ruby and Marshall have?

8. What does Ruby want to do with the money Cora gives her for clothes, and what does she ultimately do?

9. What does Jaime want Ruby to do when he picks her up at school one afternoon and what is her response?

10. What does Ruby think about her mother?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Lock and Key is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Lock and Key based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Lock and Key is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider Lock and Key a successful novel? What about young teens?

(see the answer keys)

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