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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 person want?

2. What does Nyla offer to help do?

3. Who approaches Nyle as she is examining the sheep?

4. What does Nyla not want to tell Muncie?

5. What does Municie tell Nyle?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Ezra's response to Nyle when she comes to read to him.

2. Describe Nyle and Muncie's encounter with Ripley and what you think the encounter may foreshadow.

3. What emotion do you think Muncie is feeling as she inquires why Nyle did not come study with her the night before?

4. What adds to the tension between the Muncie and Nyle?

5. Of what is the open curtain symbolic?

6. Describe Nyle's first encounter with Ezra.

7. Describe Nyle's attempts to scare the neighbor's dog, Tyrus, away from the sheep. Why does Nyle want Tyrus to get off her property?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the opening to the story, we are immediately introduced to the main character, Nyle, her best friend, Muncie, and a minor antagonist character, Ripley Powers. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed essay using specific examples and details:

1. Thoroughly describe and analyze Ripley Powers and his role in the book--using examples from the entire book. How does he help drive the plot? Is he a likable character? Is there anything about him that is redeemable?

2. Thoroughly describe and analyze Muncie and her role in the book--using examples from the entire book. How does she help drive the plot? Is she a likable character? What about her is not so likable?

3. Analyze the interactions between Nyle and Ripley. Is Ripley totally at fault? Could Nyle have done something differently to avoid conflict? What?

Essay Topic 2

In chapter one and other subsequent chapters, Ripley taunts Muncie for being different physically from the average person. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed essay using specific examples and details:

1. Discuss Muncie's physical differences and how that probably impacts her emotional responses to people. Give examples to support your thesis.

2. How has taunting of someone caused terrible repercussions in some school settings? Give examples and your analysis of the situations.

3. What are ways to teach children to accept differences? What could have been done to help Ripley accept differences? Give examples from your experience and the book.

Essay Topic 3

In chapter 19, when Ezra and Nyle are in his room doing homework, the fire department sirens go off. Immediately, he commands Nyle to close the curtains. Nyle tries to calm Ezra's fears, but he succumbs to them anyway. Soon, the sirens dissipate, and they hear a lone fire truck drive by on the road. Ezra recovers quickly and thanks Nyle for understanding. Answer the following questions by writing a cohesive essay using specific examples and details to illustrate your stance.

1. How long do you think Ezra will react to stimuli that remind him of the accident? If he lived for many years after this, do you think at some point he would be completely over the trauma of this time? Why or why not?

2. There is a psychological condition called post traumatic stress syndrome (or disease). Learn a little about this state and decide if you think Ezra suffers from this problem. Explain your analysis.

3. What do you think it will take for Ezra to heal?

(see the answer keys)

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