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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 year does Ma tell Jessie it really is?

2. While living in Clifton, how does Jessie style her hair each day?

3. What does Jessie do when Nicole asks her to visit the gift shop in Chapter 9?

4. In Chapter 8, how does Jessie get to look back at life in Clifton?

5. When does Jessie realize Katie is ill?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Jessie's parents do to make their living in Clifton?

2. When Jessie sees the Clifton school house from the outside in Chapter 9, what happens?

3. In Chapter 1, how is Clifton described?

4. In Chapter 1, how does Jessie describe a visit to Dr. Fister?

5. What happens when Jessie walks Katie home before she leaves Clifton?

6. What does Ma reveal to Jessie about Clifton?

7. What does Jessie think when she first sees a row of school buses?

8. How does Jessie escape from Clifton?

9. In Chapter 1, what rule does Ma have for Jessie coming with her on a house call?

10. After watching Clifton from the outside point of view, what does Jessie think of people in 1996?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the role of the media in "Running Out of Time". Consider Jessie's relationship with the media. How do they help each other? How do they struggle with each other?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the plot development of "Running Out of Time", and then compare it to a traditional plot arc. What elements line up between these two? What do not? How do the elements of the plot of this novel strengthen the reader's interest?

Essay Topic 3

Explore the theme of education in this novel. What role does school play inside and outside of Clifton? What alternative ways to achieve an education are presented? What is the purpose of education in this novel?

(see the answer keys)

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