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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. How does one get a rating in chess?

2. How does Beth feel when she hears the words “mother” and “dead"?

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

4. What does Beth think the chess game is the first time she ever sees it?

5. What happens to Beth at the tournament in Chapter 4, that she realizes in the bathroom?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are all the children given at the orphanage in little paper cups? Why? How does Beth feel about this?

2. How does Beth keep Mrs. Wheatley from knowing she has stolen money from her?

3. What are the two reasons Mr. Shaibel gives for why he, at first, refuses to allow Beth to play chess with him?

4. How does the reader know that Beth stole pills 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 steal money from Mrs. Wheatley?

8. How is Beth able to get away for a length of time to play chess?

9. What does Beth think and do when a nice couple with an accent comes in to adopt a child?

10. What are three things that Beth learns from taking part in her first chess tournament?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Beth is sure that her best way to win chess is through intuition. How does she learn this may be incorrect? When does study of chess and chess history start to prove to be beneficial? How does this reinforce the idea that to be really successful one must have a combination of natural gift and training?

Essay Topic 2

Beth has her first taste of beer in Chapter 6 and compares the sensation of being drunk to taking the tranquilizer pills. What does this need for drugs say about Beth? How does this reflect an addictive personality? What other aspects of her life also show she has an addictive personality?

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 4, Beth competes in her first chess tournament. Describe her experience. How does this experience compare to future chess tournaments? How does Beth grow as both a character and a chess player throughout the book?

(see the answer keys)

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