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. What aspect of her appearance does Melody describe having appreciation for in Chapter 2?

2. What is Melody's father's name?

3. How does Melody describe Penny as a baby in Chapter 9?

4. Which of the special education students do the two mean girls make fun of in music class in Chapter 11?

5. What disability does Maria have?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the character of Catherine introduced in Chapter 12? What are Melody's first impressions of Catherine?

2. Who is Ollie? How does Melody describe Ollie's death in Chapter 8?

3. What kind of music does Melody enjoy the most? How does she describe the music in her household in Chapter 2?

4. How does Melody's household change after her mother gives birth to Penny?

5. How does Melody describe her communication with her father in Chapter 10?

6. How does Melody communicate when at school in Chapter 5? Does she find this method of communication to be satisfactory?

7. How does Melody describe her relationship with her father in Chapter 3?

8. What are Melody's thoughts about Mrs. Billups? What grade does Mrs. Billups teach?

9. How does Mrs. Brooks respond to Dr. Hugely's assessment of Melody in Chapter 4?

10. How have Melody's circumstances changed as she enters fifth grade in Chapter 11?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the themes of communication and language in the novel. What do words represent symbolically to Melody? How does Melody communicate with her parents, teachers, and peers? How does Melody's ability to communicate evolve in the narrative?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Melody's friendship with Rose in the novel. What forms the initial basis of their friendship? How does their friendship evolve as Melody gains the ability to communicate? What discrimination does Rose face as she befriends Melody?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the narrative style of Out of My Mind. From whose perspective is the story related? Why do you think the author chose to employ this narrative perspective? How would the novel change if told from a different point of view?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 895 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample