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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 happens to Jess when her parents see her dressed in her father's suit and tie?

2. Where does Jess work part-time during high school?

3. Where is Jess working in Chapter 12?

4. With whom does Jess break up in Chapter 9?

5. How many articles of clothing associated with his or her biological sex did a cross-dresser have to wear in order to avoid arrest?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the circumstances in which Jess is deliberately set up to be hurt at the bindery.

2. How does Theresa react to Jess' desire to take male hormones?

3. What unusual request can Jess not meet after the death of Butch Ro?

4. What is Tifka's and why does Jess find it a haven?

5. Why did the butches and femmes have no recourse against the police brutality?

6. What is the significance of Jess being called a "stone" butch?

7. How does the author insert some levity into the story?

8. What are the circumstances related to Jess being raped during high school?

9. When does Jess first learn that there are other people like her and that she may be able to find them?

10. What happens to Jess on her first night on her own?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The role of parental influence is a strong one and mostly negative on Jess. How was Jess' family fighting its own battles related to anti-Semitism? Does that help to explain why they could not risk a lesbian daughter to add to their torment? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the taboo of homosexuality in the 1960s. Compare and contrast homosexuality in America during the 1960s to homosexuality in America today. What major changes have occurred both positive and negative?

Essay Topic 3

Project into the future ten years after the end of the novel and write a brief synopsis for the lives of Jess and three other characters. Be sure to incorporate personal, political and cultural impacts on the characters' lives.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,040 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample