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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 Nyla not want to tell Muncie?

2. What are Nyle and Gran doing down in the cellar?

3. What is Gran's response to Nyle's question?

4. What does Mrs. Trent do when she comes into the room where Nyla and Ezra are?

5. What does a nurse do to Ezra?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

3. Describe Nyle's first encounter with Ezra.

4. What does Nyle see as she approaches the farmhouse and what might it foreshadow?

5. The issue of a drawn curtain occurs in this chapter, in previous chapters, and in future chapters. How does this issue come up in this chapter and venture a guess as to the significance of the incident.

6. How is it obvious that the two teens feel some attraction for each other?

7. What are the girls studying in their English class that is a major theme of this book?

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

9. What does it mean when Nyle looks at all of her treasures and realizes that if the wind shifts, she will have to leave them all behind?

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

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 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 15, Nyle brings up the idea of Mrs. Trent and Ezra staying on after Ezra is well. Gran tells her that it is important for them to make a fresh start, and in order to do so, Mrs. Trent and Ezra need to leave. Answer the following questions by writing a cohesive essay using specific examples and details to illustrate your stance.

1. Do you think Mrs. Trent and Ezra would be unable to heal emotionally from the accident if they continue to live in the area? Why or why not?

2. This small act of letting go that Nyle does in chapter 15 is a prelude to a much greater act of letting go that Nyle must do in chapter 29. What happens that helps Nyle mature to the point that she learns to let go? Give some examples of her maturing process between chapters 15 and 29.

3. At this point in the story, it seems possible that Ezra will heal completely and be able to start a new life elsewhere. Knowing how so much of what happens in this chapter and the next 10 or so chapters, points to a complete recovery, how hard is it for you, the reader, to also "let go" and accept that Ezra dies? Do you feel tricked or cheated?

(see the answer keys)

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