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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 embarrasses Melinda in Spanish class?

2. What does the art teacher think the establishment has beaten out of the students?

3. What does Melinda think would make David Petrakis cute?

4. Why does the ecology club protest the new mascot name?

5. What is Melinda's mother preoccupied with at work in September?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Melinda notice in her mirror and why don't Melinda's parents seem to notice the change in her?

2. What is the topic of discussion at dinner after the interim reports come out, and how does Melinda respond?

3. What are some names Melinda comes up with for groups of students in the auditorium, and to what group does she belong?

4. Describe Melinda's Thanksgiving Day.

5. Describe Melinda's encounter with Rachel in the bathroom in "First Marking Period".

6. Why doesn't Melinda go trick or treating, and what does she do on Halloween?

7. How does Melinda's former friend Rachel respond to Melinda in "First Marking Period"?

8. What do Melinda's parents order to do after school and how does Melinda "obey" them?

9. Who are the Marthas and why does Melinda talk about them?

10. What is Mr. Freeman like and what does he have the students do on the first day?

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 Speak 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

Speak could be said to be a "bildungsroman" of Melinda Sordina, the narrator. Discuss the following:

1. Define the concepts "bildungsroman" and "coming of age."

2. Thoroughly trace and analyze Speak as a bildungsroman of Melinda Sordino. Give specific examples. What does Melinda learn? How has she changed? Is the change for the better?

3. Why do you think many novels/stories written for teens are "coming of age" stories? Do you think it is good for teens to read this genre? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Speak has sometimes been subjected to censorship because of its subject matter and the intended audience. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think a ninth-grade student in the "real" world is too young to read about rape and its aftermath?

2. Do you think many girls who are Melinda's age are raped?

3. Would reading a book such as Speak help a girl who has been raped? In what ways do you think it would help a victim of rape, especially one who is Melinda's age?

4. Do you think reading Speak could be harmful emotionally to students in high school and/or middle school?

(see the answer keys)

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