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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. Who does Penny punch in the nose during the baseball game that she and Frankie are playing?

2. What type of animal does Penny's dog chase into the house?

3. What types of vegetables are served as part of the dinner with Mr. Mulligan?

4. Whose house grounds were supposed to be stashed with money?

5. Where is Aunt Gina planning to go dancing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Based on the narrative at the beginning of Chapter 9, how does Penny's mother's relationship with Mr. Mulligan become more apparent to Penny upon her return home from Nonny's?

2. Based on the narrative in Chapter 3 of the book, can it be said that Penny's Uncle Ralphie is more generous than her Aunt Fulvia?

3. According to the text in Chapters 4 and 5, does Penny have to endure any unwanted physical misfortunes as a result of Pop-pop painting the household furniture with black lacquer?

4. According to the text in Chapter 3 of the book, are any signs visible signs of what may be spousal abuse that Frankie and Penny detect while making a delivery stop at Mrs. Giaquinto's house and speaking with her briefly?

5. According to the text in Chapter 9 of the book, what contributes toward Penny storming out of the house on Saturday afternoon when Mr. Mulligan stops by to watch the ball game on television with her?

6. According to the narrative in the sixth chapter of the book, can Sunday dinners at Penny's paternal grandmother's (Nonny's) house be described as being Italian-themed?

7. Based on the narrative in Chapter 3 of the book, how do Penny and Frankie show their politeness to Mrs. Wiederhorn during their meat delivery stop at her house?

8. Based on the text in Chapter 10 of the book, how are some of the townspeople aware that Penny's late grandfather Falucci had buried cash somewhere on his property?

9. According to the text in the first couple of chapters in the book, why does Penny's maternal grandmother, Me-me, do most of the cooking for Penny and her mother?

10. Based on the narrative in the sixth chapter of the book, can Penny's paternal side of the family be labeled as small or large?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Even though he initially drove Penny to the hospital following her accident with the washing machine, Uncle Dominic does not visit her during her lengthy hospital stay. In time, Penny learns that he has traveled to Florida and been there during her time of recuperation. Upon his return, a confrontation occurs between Penny's mother and Uncle Dominic. What was the reason for Uncle Dominic's decision to travel and stay in Florida during the time that Penny was in the hospital? Does his decision to spend time in Florida during Penny's hospital stay indicate that he is not concerned about Penny? Did it indicate that he was more concerned about his own reason(s) for going to Florida than comforting Penny during the time that she needed moral support? Or could there have been another underlying reason(s) for his departure to Florida following Penny's accident? Cite text and/or paraphrase scenarios from the book to support your position.

Essay Topic 2

In the beginning of the story, Eleanor, Penny's mother, states that if Frankie is going to work alongside Penny, then she will feel comfortable allowing Penny to work. In making that statement, Eleanor implies that Frankie is an individual that would help assure that Penny would not get into any trouble, as long as Frankie is around her as she performs her job. For that reason perhaps, Eleanor did not show any resistance toward Penny spending time with Frankie. When Frankie goes to court toward the end of the book, it should not be overlooked that he was scared to go there because the judge had previously told him that he did not want to see him back in court again. Was Eleanor not aware of Frankie's court-related past when she based her decision to allow Penny to work on whether Frankie would be working alongside her? Looking back at the the misadventures that Frankie and Penny get into throughout the story however, was Eleanor's assumption of Frankie's character type and influence correct or incorrect? Why or why not? Cite story text and/or paraphrase scenarios from the book in support of your position.

Essay Topic 3

Although Penny's father has been dead for a number of years, it is apparent that his family members have not let him go. There are numerous actions and activities in the story that illustrate how members of his side of the family continue to mourn for him. Explain whether their action(s) and/or activities have influenced Penny's feelings toward her deceased father in a positive or negative way, citing examples from the book in support of your position.

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