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 7th grade, Jeannette finds a sense of belonging by:

2. What event leads to Rex's becoming (temporarily) sober in Part 4?

3. What happens to the money that Jeannette is supposed to use to feed the family in Part 3?

4. Where are Jeannette's parents living when they move to New York?

5. How does Jeannette's grandparents feel about her relationship with Dinitia?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the condition of the Walls family home worsen during the spring in Welch?

2. What has the author found with her second husband that she did not have with her first?

3. Why do Rex and Rose Mary follow their children to New York City to live?

4. What are some of the reasons that the children do not like going to school in Welch?

5. Why does Jeannette enjoy swimming with Dinitia more than going to the pool during the other swim sessions when the rest of the white children in Welch swim?

6. When Erma dies, how does the Walls family react? How is Rex's reaction different from the rest of the family?

7. Why does Rose Mary decide to hang on to the diamond ring that the children find in the woods rather than selling it for much needed money? What does this say about her priorities?

8. Why is Jeannette so interested in going to Ginnie Sue's house? What is her visit like?

9. Why does Rose Mary quit her job, and what is Jeannette's reaction?

10. Describe Jeannette's reaction when her mother comes to her, begging her and her new husband to buy some property in Texas that abutted her own.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Walls children have a hard time adjusting to life as adults. How does each of them carry the scars of their neglectful childhood?

1) Compare Brian, Maureen, Jeannette, and Lori as adults. How are their lives alike, and how do they differ?

2) What difficulties has each of them faced as adults, and how successful have they been in overcoming or learning from these difficulties?

3) What good traits, or qualities has each of these children developed as a result of their "unique" childhood?

Essay Topic 2

Money is not important to Rose Mary and Rex Walls, which is demonstrated throughout the book. Although it may sometimes appear that the couple's actions are somewhat amoral or selfish, they are actually living according to their own set of moral values that do not agree with those of society. What are the values of Rose Mary and Rex and how do they demonstrate them to both their children and the world? What is it that really matters to Rex and Rose Mary?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the book, Rex has difficulty holding a job and fully realizing his responsibilities, yet he does love his children and expresses it as best he can. Describe the dysfunctional yet caring relationship between this father and his children. Discuss examples of both times he failed his children, as well as and in which he was able to 'come through' or express his love for them in a meaningful way.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,049 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample