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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 the woman in #4 tell Martha about Olive?

2. Why does Martha feel the need to make the most of her time with Goodbee?

3. What nickname did Martha secretly refer to her mother as?

4. How much older is Vince than Martha?

5. Where did Olive want to live?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the next secret Martha reveals to Godbee regarding what she wants to be one day?

2. Who is Vince?

3. What does Martha recall about Olive's death?

4. What does Martha learn about Olive by reading the first page of her journal?

5. What could Godbee mean when she tells Martha that this could be their last summer together?

6. What is the traditional game played during visits to Godbee's house and why is the first game night of this visit not very successful?

7. What secret does Godbee share with Martha as part of their first daily information sharing ritual?

8. What does Martha recall about a conversation she and her best friend Holly had about Olive's death?

9. What is important to Olive's mother about what Martha must have done at some time?

10. Who is Martha's mother and what is her job?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Martha. What did she look like? What were her positive personality traits? What were her dreams and fears? What was most valuable to her in her world?

Essay Topic 2

Loss takes on an almost human persona in this book. What were the sources of loss in the story? What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

Essay Topic 3

Explain the significance of the book's title. What does the author mean by calling it simply OLIVE'S OCEAN. What is he trying to emphasize with this emphatic style? Suggest three alternate titles for this book with supporting rationale for each.

(see the answer keys)

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