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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. Who is Aileen?

2. Why do Armpit's parents worry about Armpit taking Ginny to the concert?

3. Why does Kaira join the band in their bus?

4. What is X-Ray's plans for making money?

5. What does Armpit say he'll never do again?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Who is Karia DeLeon?

5. What happens to Armpit on his way home, and why does the incident not bother him?

6. Why is Cotton fired and what does Kaira promise to do about it?

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

8. Why does Armpit get angry with X-Ray, and how does X-Ray respond?

9. What does Ginny's mother allow Armpit to do and what comment does she make that surprises Armpit's mother?

10. Why does Kaira ride in the band's bus and whose music does the band play for her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 Small Steps and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Small Steps 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 2

Small Steps belongs to the young adult novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the young adult novel 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 young adult novel and a historical novel mystery?

Essay Topic 3

1. What is foreshadowing? How many incidences of foreshadowing are in Small Steps? How does foreshadowing contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadowing in Small Steps, including why you believe it is foreshadowing. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from Small Steps and your own live to support your opinion.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,125 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample