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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. Why does Beth tell Jolene she is sorry?

2. Where is the first chess tournament Beth ever take place in held?

3. What does Mrs. Deardorff threaten if the children do not to eat every bite?

4. How does one get a rating in chess?

5. What is so special about Beth‘s new bedroom?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Beth‘s life at the home improve at the end of Chapter 2?

2. Where is Beth placed, initially, at her first chess tournament? Why?

3. What does Beth use to fall asleep at night? Why?

4. Why does Beth steal money from Mrs. Wheatley?

5. How does the reader first learn about Beth’s appearance? How does she describe herself?

6. Why does Beth attempt to steal pills from the pharmacy?

7. Why does Beth push past her fear of Mr. Shaibel?

8. How does Beth get the job of cleaning the erasers after arithmetic class?

9. What is Beth’s punishment for attempting to stealing green pills?

10. How do the majority of the players react to Beth’s chess skills at her first tournament?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 8, when Beth plays the young prodigy and asks him what he will do once he is world champion. How will he spend the rest of his life? He looks at her puzzled. How would Beth have responded to this question if she had been asked when she was young? Why might Beth have asked this question? Might she also be asking herself this question? How does the struggle between Beth’s commitment to chess and life outside of chess show itself throughout the book?

Essay Topic 2

There is much focus on Beth being a girl. Why might this be a focus by those who write articles about her? What does this say about the time period? How can we relate to this still today?

Essay Topic 3

Sexuality is introduced early on in the book. How does Beth learn about sex and sexual acts? What is her reaction to this? How is she affected by this? Why might the author have chosen to do this? How does it affect you as the reader?

(see the answer keys)

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