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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 Nyle wear in order to walk around the farm?

2. What happens when Muncie, Nyle and Ezra get to the house?

3. What does Mr. Perry want Nyle to do?

4. What does Nyle do when she and Ezra are upstairs in Nyle's room?

5. What is Nyle's fear about Gran and the Trents?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is a theme that appears in this chapter, which has appeared in previous chapters and give an example of how the theme is illustrated.

2. How does Nyle wisely help Ezra feel comfortable in her room?

3. How does Ezra respond to the sirens they hear, and why do you think he reacts the way he does?

4. How does Ripley demonstrate that he is a bully?

5. What happens that probably garners sympathy for Ripley on the part of the characters and readers?

6. How does Ezra seem to fare on his first day of school?

7. What is admirable about Uncle Lemmy's choices after the nuclear disaster?

8. What are signs of Ezra's improvement?

9. How does Muncie prove that despite her ups and downs with her friendship with Nyle she is a true friend?

10. Why do you think Nyle and Ezra are awkward with each other when put in a position that it seems they must acknowledge something about their relationship?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

In chapter 3, Mr. Sobel, the science teacher, informs the students all about radioactive materials. Nyle reflects on how much better science class was when it was just text in a book and not material that the children experienced firsthand. Answer the following questions by writing a well-developed essay using specific examples and details:

1. What is ironic about Mr. Sobel's science lesson? Do you think the irony is humorous or tragic? Why?

2. We have all heard the statement, "learn by experience." Now it is apparent there are times when that's not the best way to learn. When is learning by experience helpful? When can it be harmful? How does Ezra learn by experience in a harmful way? In a helpful way (see chapter 21)?

3. Which type of learning do you prefer--hands on or book learning? Why?

Essay Topic 3

In chapter 11, Ezra says he feels like a phoenix and how good it feels to be alive. Answer the following questions by writing a cohesive essay using specific examples and details to illustrate your stance.

1. What is a phoenix? From what culture does the image of the phoenix come?

2. The image of the phoenix occurs in chapter 12 and chapter 21, both in relation to Ezra. Analyze how the image is used in both places and discuss how you think the phoenix is a good image for Ezra.

3. Knowing that Ezra dies in the end, so in a sense he does not rise from the ashes as a phoenix does, how does that inform the title of this book? How could the symbol of the phoenix apply to Ezra at the end of the book?

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