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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. Why can't Lucinda eat human food?

2. What does Mallory say does not make their house dangerous?

3. Of what does their mother remind them when Jared and Mallory begin fighting?

4. What does Mallory want to do with the Field Guide?

5. How do the grounds at the asylum appear?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Helen do when the family enters Lucinda's room and what does Helen tell Lucinda?

2. What does Lucinda say when Simon asks if Arthur is her father?

3. How does Simon feel about Mallory's idea on the guide but what does he agree is the result of the guide? Why does he agree with Mallory?

4. What does Jared suggest when his siblings ask him who can help?

5. What happened between Jared and Thimbletack prior to the pranks starting and what did Jared do to hope to appease the brownie?

6. What is Jared doing with his clothes and why is he doing it?

7. What kind of pranks is Thimbletack playing and who was blamed for the last prank by Jared's mother?

8. What does Jared ask Simon and Mallory if they want to give up and what do they say to that question?

9. What does Lucinda say happened with her when her father left?

10. What does Lucinda tell the children and what does she ask them about their lives?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lucinda's Secret belongs to the fantasy genre. Discuss the following:

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

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

3. Discuss two reasons why it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

4. Discuss what your favorite genre is; give several examples and explain what you enjoy about books in that genre.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Lucinda's Secret, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Mallory is having trouble coping with the realization that their home and the family's safety is unpredictable and precarious. The uncertainty of life alarms her.

1. Why do you think Mallory is alarmed at the uncertainty of life? Use examples from Lucinda's Secret and your own life to support your answer.

2. Have you ever felt that life was scary because it was uncertain? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life to support your answer.

3. What are some of the things you think are absolutely certain about life and what are some that you think are completely uncertain?

(see the answer keys)

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