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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. Artie, from the dry cleaners, talks Ruth into joining what?

2. Matt often shone in school, actually skipping a grade. How did this affect Ruth?

3. Ruth believes May is very _________ at this point in her life.

4. How did these feelings about herself affect her?

5. Does Ruth intend to stay the first few times she goes to Miss Finch's?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did May do after Willard's death?

2. How does Artie get Ruth involved in an activity?

3. What does Matt do after high school graduation?

4. Why is Ruth teased in school? How does she deal with this?

5. How did May and Willard's marriage come to an end?

6. What story does Ruth tell about going to a dance?

7. Why does Ruth begin working for Miss Finch?

8. How does Ruth meet Ruby?

9. What does Ruth recall about school?

10. Why does Ruth believe the people in town must feel sorry for her and her family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ruth's father left when she was ten.

Part 1) Describe Ruth's family. Why might her father have left?

Part 2) How did her father's leaving affect Ruth, her brother, and her mother?

Part 3) What is a significant event that has taken place in your own life? How has it affected you?

Essay Topic 2

May is murdered.

Part 1) Describe the events leading up to her murder. Is her murder foreshadowed? Explain.

Part 2) Describe her murder. How is Ruth affected by this? How might it change her permanently?

Part 3) Could her murder have been prevented? If so, how? If not, why not? How might the various have found peace with May's death?

Essay Topic 3

Ruth learns she is pregnant.

Part 1) How do May and Ruby react to this news? Why do they react this way?

Part 2) Is this pregnancy a good idea? Why or why not? How does this pregnancy and Justin's birth both help and hurt this family?

Part 3) Would this family have survived if Justin had not been born? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 870 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample