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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 is Pillow?

2. What does Ginny do when the police grab Armpit?

3. Why is Armpit disappointed after the last two campaign speeches?

4. What do Kaira and her band spontaneously decide to do?

5. Whom do Ginny and Armpit notice Kaira arguing with after the concert?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is X-Ray and what does he want of Armpit and what is Armpit's initial response to X-Ray's proposal?

2. What makes Tatiana decide not to go with Armpit and who does he invite?

3. What does Kaira decide to sing and how does it turn out?

4. What does Kaira say about Armpit and Ginny's experience with the forged tickets?

5. What does Murdock say and do when X-Ray and Armpit arrive at his restaurant?

6. What speech does Armpit deliver using Coo as a prop, and how does Tatiana respond?

7. What happens between Armpit and some police officers and why?

8. Who is Theodore Johnson; what is his nickname; and, how did he acquire it?

9. Who goes with Armpit to meet X-Ray, and why does Armpit refuse to sell any tickets to the white guys the first time Armpit and X-ray meet up with them?

10. What does Armpit impulsively do as far as Tatiana is concerned?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The narrative manifests its thematic interest in the alluring power of money. Also here, it's important to consider how, in some fundamental ways, there is little moral, essential difference between what X-Ray does to Armpit and what El Genius is later revealed to be doing to Kaira. The scope and level of violence are quite different, but the basic principles behind their actions are the same where greed rules.

1. Do you think that a huge sum of money will corrupt everyone? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and Small Steps to support your reasoning.

2. Explain whether what Armpit and X-Ray did is the same or not the same as what El Genius did except on a smaller scale. Use examples from your own life and Small Steps to support your reasoning.

3. Do you think X-Ray and Armpit should have been punished for scalping and using fake tickets? Was X-Ray more to blame than Armpit? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and Small Steps to support your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of interesting questions raised by Small Steps. Questions that Sachar most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Sachar' agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Sachar' probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Sachar and see how his life might have influenced his writing.

Essay Topic 3

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think Small Steps is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

(see the answer keys)

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