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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. What does Harry Beltik feel about Beth winning through her own intuition?

2. As Beth’s agent, how much will Mrs. Wheatley earn on commission?

3. Why is Mrs. Wheatley suddenly interested in opening a bank account for Beth?

4. What does Mrs. Wheatley offer Beth, when Beth returns to the hotel room?

5. What does Beth wish would happen with Townes?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Harry Beltik help improve Beth skills at chess?

2. What big chess tournaments are mentioned at the end of Chapter 7?

3. How does Beth feel about seeing Townes again in Chapter 6?

4. What does Beth think about Las Vegas? Why?

5. How does Beth react to not winning the tournament in Mexico City?

6. How does Beth play against Benny at skittles in Chapter 10?

7. How does Beth feel, at first, at the college party?

8. How does Beth end up in New York?

9. How do Beth’s and Mrs. Wheatley’s spending habits change throughout Chapter 5?

10. How does Beth feel about the tournament in Ohio in Chapter 10?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why is Beth drawn to the game of chess? How does she feel when she plays? How does this compare to her level of self-esteem the rest of her life? How does her attitude about herself influence her love of chess?

Essay Topic 2

The book ends with Beth asking an old man to play chess with her at a park. How does this reflect the answer that she and the other young prodigy gave when asked what they would do after chess? How does this ending also bring the story back around to Beth‘s chess playing beginning?

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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