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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 surprises Armpit when he observes a suspect being questioned?

2. Where does Kaira invite Armpit to visit her?

3. Who is Debbie Newburg?

4. What is one dilemma that Armpit faces?

5. What does Armpit ask of Kaira?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what dilemmas is Armpit immersed, and what does he decide?

2. What does Detective Newburg ask Armpit to do and what is his response?

3. Who visits Armpit while he is doing some plumbing and what do they want?

4. Why is Armpit uneasy in a coffee shop and what does Kaira say about Ginny and Kaira's own work with a dying girl?

5. Describe Armpit's conversation with Detective Newburg.

6. What does Armpit realize about a song he hears Kaira sing?

7. What happens when Armpit encounters Felix and Moses coming back from his speech exam?

8. What does Armpit decide about the trip and how does he feel about his decision?

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

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

Characters are an important part of what makes Small Steps interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Armpit. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Kaira. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of El Genius. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

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

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.

(see the answer keys)

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