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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 is Melody's mother's favorite flower?

2. What does Melody name the puppy that her father gives her?

3. What aroma does Melody think of when remembering her mother massaging her with lotion as a baby in Chapter 2?

4. How old is Melody when her parents give her a goldfish?

5. Where does Melody's mother describe more fighting as she reads the newspaper on Saturday morning in Chapter 10?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What are "photographic memory" and "synesthesia"? How do these terms apply to Melody in the novel?

4. What exchange takes place between Mrs. Brooks and Mrs. Billups in Chapter 7?

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

6. How does Melody describe the importance and meaning of "words" in Chapter 1?

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

8. How does Melody describe her school in Chapter 5? Where does Melody go to class?

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

10. How is Mrs. V described in Chapter 6? How does Melody know Mrs. V?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are Melody's actions, objectives, and obstacles in the narrative? How does Melody go about achieving what she wants in the story? Does she achieve her objectives? What stands in her way, and how are these obstacles handled?

Essay Topic 2

Why is Melody the central focus for the reporters at the Whiz Kids tournaments? How does this focus on Melody impact the other team members? How does Melody feel about the attention?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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