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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 principal announce on the day it rains?

2. What surprises Nyle when she goes to give Ezra a lesson on sheep farming?

3. What happens when the girls accidentally rile Ripley?

4. Where has Mrs. Haskins been?

5. Who killed the sheep?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do you think the theme of determination plays out in this chapter?

2. What else occurs at the beginning of this chapter that gives Nyle a sense of unease?

3. What does Nyle ask her Gran about sheep farming and what is Gran's response? Does Nyle's response surprise you?

4. What does Mrs. Haskins assign her students to do and do you think this is mixing education with politics?

5. Describe Nyle's first encounter with Ezra.

6. What happens that demonstrates one minor theme in this book--that is, not accepting people for who they are?

7. What do the girls do in Radio Shack and why is that ironic?

8. What is the first sign of hope that Ezra shows?

9. What do you think Ezra means when he says he feels like a phoenix?

10. What is ironic about Ezra's feeling about the back room?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In chapter 8, Nyle thinks about how the back room used to symbolize happiness for her. Answer the following questions by writing a cohesive essay using specific examples and details to illustrate your stance.

1. Compare and contrast how the back room was used in better times to the way the back room is used as a "hospital" room.

2. What is ironic about the fact that Nyle's tears of anger and grief are what seems to jolt Ezra into communicating briefly?

3. Does the emotional meaning of the back room change at some point for Nyle? Explain, using examples.

Essay Topic 2

In chapter 6, Mrs. Trent asks Nyle if she would dip the washcloth into the sweet water and dab it on Ezra's lips. Immediately, Nyle remembers her grandmother promised that she would not have to tend to Ezra's physical needs, but she sees the look of exhaustion on Mrs. Trent's face and decides that this is another one of those things that "she needed to do." Answer the following questions by writing a cohesive essay using specific examples and details to illustrate your stance.

1. Compare and contrast how Nyle feels about caring for Ezra when she first starts the care giving to near the end of the time Nyle has to care for him.

2. What do you think shifts Nyle's attitude? Give examples.

3. Do you think it is fair of Gran to expect Nyle to care for a stranger? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

In chapter 5, Nyle sits on her bed listening to the radio and notices all of her treasures. Nyle looks at all of them and realizes that if the wind shifts, she will have to leave all of her treasures behind. Answer the following questions by writing a cohesive essay using specific examples and details to illustrate your stance.

1. Do you think Nyle thinking about her treasures and the loss she would feel changes her attitude towards Ezra. Why or why not?

2. What treasures do you have that would be very difficult to abandon for whatever reason? Would any of them be worth risking your life to save?

3. What lesson(s) does Nyle ultimately learn about what is important? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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