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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 yells at the boys saying he called the cops?

2. What does the letter from Kaira to Armpit say?

3. Who is at Armpit's house?

4. What does Armpit hear Kaira sing on the radio one day?

5. What does El Genius get out of Armpit's room?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the conversation between Detective Newburg and Armpit after he witnesses X-Ray's interrogation.

2. What does Armpit's boss say about Armpit's work and what does the boss offer to do?

3. What "game" do Kaira and Armpit play when they leave the hotel restaurant and what does Kaira disclose to Armpit?

4. Describe Armpit's conversation with Detective Newburg.

5. How does Kaira discover that Armpit is ticklish and what does Fred interrupt?

6. Describe the interaction between Armpit and Kaira in the hotel restaurant.

7. What does X-Ray tell Armpit and how does Armpit respond?

8. What does Armpit stop to buy and then where do Kaira and Armpit go?

9. What does the narrator say about what happens in the events surrounding Kaira?

10. What happens when El Genius encounters Armpit in the hotel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in Small Steps. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of trust in Small Steps. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to be trustworthy? Why? Which are not?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of change in Small Steps. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with change? Why? What are some symbols of change? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid? Which characters change the most? How?

Essay Topic 3

Escaping the past, is explored or commented on in several ways. The first is in the opening images of Chapter 6, in which the man crossing the street is portrayed as, and seen by Armpit as, avoiding him because of his criminal history. The key point here is that Armpit chooses not to react - that is, he's no longer reacting negatively to those who DO react negatively to his past. Armpit's determination to move beyond his past also manifests in his avoidance of the teenagers in the car, all of whom he knows from his previous life and all of whom are living and/or behaving in ways that he no longer wants to participate in.

1. Do you think it is unlikely that the man crossed the street to avoid Armpit? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and Small Steps to support your reasoning.

2. Discuss ways in which a person like Armpit might set himself free from his past. Use examples from your own life and Small Steps to support your reasoning.

3. Discuss the changes that may have occurred inside Armpit that keeps him from reacting negatively to the man on the street. Use examples from your own life and Small Steps to support your reasoning.

(see the answer keys)

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