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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. Why does Miri hide the book she is reading?

2. Why does the village decide to raise linder prices?

3. What is Miri determined to do concerning Enrik?

4. In what does Miri take comfort?

5. Where does Miri continue practicing reading?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Miri hear some other girls discussing about her, and what does Miri think?

2. What does the King's messenger announce?

3. What does Miri continue to do each day, and how does that help her?

4. How does Miri discover that Britta cannot hear quarry speech?

5. Who is Britta?

6. Why did Miri feel isolated from other girls her age and how is being at the academy changing that?

7. Where does Miri want to go and what does her pa say about it?

8. What does Miri explain to Britta about spring holiday and what do they talk about concerning quarry speech?

9. What startles Miri awake one morning and why is she unsettled?

10. What is linder and why has Miri not been allowed in the linder mines?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Miri's sense of fairness is very strong during the testing. As a competitor the smartest thing for her to do would be to let the others fend for themselves, but she cannot abandon her friends, especially since she believes they all deserve to go to the ball. At first only she is helping, but eventually all the girls are helping each other using quarry-speech. Miri is not only incredibly fair and selfless, she inspires the same feelings in others--even when Katar struggles on a question Miri helps her, though she must debate with herself for a moment before she does. The twist of the girls voting for their own princess works in Miri's favor, and is a very fair way for Olana to choose the princess---the girl will need to be able to interact well with the public.

1. Do you think it was right for Miri to help the others with their test? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own experiences to support your answer.

2. Discuss what Miri helping Katar says about her as a person. Use examples from the text and your own experiences to support your answer.

3. Do you think Miri helps the others in order to win the title of Academy Princess? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own experiences to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Princess Academy" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Princess Academy" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Princess Academy belongs to the fantasy genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the fantasy genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a fantasy and a historical novel mystery?

(see the answer keys)

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