View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Lillian in Chapter Two, what are children?

2. According to Lillian in Chapter One, upon first meeting Madison, Lillian discovered they had what trait in common?

3. What surprising information about the fire does Bessie reveal in Chapter Five?

4. According to the twins in Chapter Five, when do the fires most often occur?

5. According to Lillian in Chapter One, what drug did Madison get caught with while in high school?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Lillian's present circumstances as explained in Chapter One.

2. Describe Lillian's appearance at the beginning of Chapter Four. How does she describe herself?

3. What conversation do the twins have while Lillian pretends to sleep in Chapter Five?

4. According to Bessie in Chapter Five, how did their mother deal with their unique ability?

5. What does Lillian think the first time she sees the twins burn in Chapter Three?

6. What happens when Lillian introduces herself to the twins in Chapter Three?

7. What does Jasper tell Lillian in Chapter Two? How does she respond?

8. How does Lillian feel about the children in Chapter Four?

9. What sorts of normal behaviors does Lillian instill in the twins in Chapter Five?

10. How does Madison convince Lillian to stay at the estate in Chapter One?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In what ways is the novel a celebration of being weird? Evaluate the role of weirdness in the novel, using textual evidence for support.

Essay Topic 2

Appearances in the story can be deceiving. How do appearances differ from reality in this story? Discuss three characters, objects, or situations and how this idea applies to each.

Essay Topic 3

At the beginning of the novel, Madison equates having power with never getting punished. How does this belief reflect her character as well as the novel’s themes?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 770 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample