View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In what color ink is Bec's note written?

2. What is NOT one of the treatments being used to help Riley improve their mental health?

3. What class does Riley have second period?

4. What happens to make Jim finally sit down during the standoff with Solo?

5. What curfew does Riley's father set on the night of the fundraiser?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Riley feel about the lack of uniforms at the public high school?

2. When the girl contemplating suicide contacts Riley, what piece of Riley's advice does she take that leads to negative consequences?

3. Why does Riley feel their parents are close to asking them to again start attending political events with the family?

4. What does Doctor Ann say about the act of "wondering if it's okay to be who you are" (110) and how do her comments relate to the novel's title?

5. What action does Riley describe as being "like a suicide ritual" (64)?

6. What is demonstrated about Solo's character when he tells Riley that "High school sucks for everyone" (95)?

7. How is foreshadowing used within Riley's mention of having "strange and pleasant dreams" (81) after thinking of Bec's hand on Riley's knee earlier in the evening?

8. What does Riley mean with the words, "At least I can tell Doctor Ann I tried"? (1)

9. Discuss the author's use of hyperbole to characterize Riley's voice.

10. What does Riley call their one formal outfit and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the novel Symptoms of Being Human from an Existential perspective. What elements of life does it suggest hold the most meaning and why?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the author's choice to withhold from the reader the biological gender of the protagonist within the novel Symptoms of Being Human.

Essay Topic 3

What is the novel's message concerning the link between courage and mental health?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,338 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample