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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 signs Armpit's cast?
2. Who interrupts a near kiss between Armpit and Kaira?
3. What surprises Armpit when he observes a suspect being questioned?
4. How does El Genius harm Fred?
5. What game do Kaira and Armpit play outside?
Short Essay Questions
1. Describe the phone conversation between X-Ray and Armpit.
2. In what dilemmas is Armpit immersed, and what does he decide?
3. Describe Armpit's conversation with Detective Newburg.
4. What happens when Armpit gets to the hotel to visit Kaira?
5. What does Armpit tell Ginny about his experience in San Francisco?
6. What does Armpit's boss say about Armpit's work and what does the boss offer to do?
7. What does Armpit realize about a song he hears Kaira sing?
8. What does Armpit stop to buy and then where do Kaira and Armpit go?
9. What does El Genius do in Armpit's room?
10. What does Armpit decide about the trip and how does he feel about his decision?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
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.
Essay Topic 2
Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:
1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Louis Sachar.
2. What in Sachar's background may have helped him in writing Small Steps? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?
3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.
Essay Topic 3
Discuss the following:
1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?
2. Analyze and discuss Small Steps based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Small Steps is a successful novel.
3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider Small Steps a successful novel? What about young teens?
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This section contains 1,132 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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