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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. Before getting on a boat to go to Europe, where was Sunny overwhelmed by all the people and she had to sit down?

2. In "The First Property of Thirst," how many years has Rocky been taking the same morning walk?

3. What color were the pages of thin paper Sunny found in her mother's cookbooks and that Sunny hoped would be completed recipes?

4. Where was Lou's iron lung kept when she had to use it?

5. To spatchcock chicken, how many incisions did Lou believe it took?

Short Essay Questions

1. What would have been Schiff's dream job?

2. On Rocky's first walk after his wife died, what did he find?

3. What is sense memory?

4. How did Sunny try to reconstruct her mother?

5. What phrase did Sunny's mother believe about food, and who originated the catchphrase?

6. Why is Schiff in California?

7. Why is Schiff invited to dinner at Three Chairs?

8. What does Lou's look like?

9. How is Rocky tracking the water table on his land?

10. Why does Rocky's ranch have a bell tower?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mood is an element that authors use to evoke feelings in readers through the use of descriptive language. Mood is the overall feeling that readers have when reading a story. What is the overall mood of Properties of Thirst?

Essay Topic 2

Imagery is a literary device authors use to describe characters and the world they inhabit. Imagery involves using the five senses to describe characters, places, and things. How does Wiggins use imagery to help readers imagine the world and characters she has created?

Essay Topic 3

In Properties of Thirst, some characters are more thoroughly described than others. Who are some characters that are merely named in passing or have a minor role in the novel? What is the importance of these flat characters to the story line? In what way do these characters make the main characters more colorful or interesting? When there is conflict, what type of role do these flat characters play?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,082 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample