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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 is the name of the specialist who monitors Jessica?

2. Where does Fiona take Jessica for lunch on Jessica's first day back at school?

3. Who do Fiona and Jessica run into in the school parking lot after Jessica’s first day?

4. What does Jessica’s mom do when she realizes Jessica went up the stairs on her own?

5. Who is Jessica surprised to get a call from when she is in the hospital?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jessica realize about why she has always chosen to ignore Rosa?

2. Why does Jessica call her mother after she leaves with Fiona to go to lunch?

3. What does Jessica’s mom tell her about the financial situation with the insurance companies?

4. Why is Jessica’s exchange with Kaylee and her friends so awkward when they come home?

5. Why does Jessica feel overwhelmed being in the hospital after her surgery?

6. What does Kaylee think of the way Jessica has been behaving since she got home from the hospital?

7. Why is Jessica mad at Dr. Wells when he tells her she is recovering beautifully?

8. Why does Jessica feel emotional when her dad pulls into their driveway for the first time since the accident?

9. Why does Jessica feel self-conscious about her pants on her first day back at school?

10. What does Jessica realize about herself when she sees that her stump is becoming more manageable?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Toward the end of the River Run Jessica decides that the only thing that will get her to the finish line is to take each mile “one by one by one” (328). Explore how the author utilizes the idea that progress takes patience and mindfulness through the characters.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay in which you examine Jessica’s decision to run with Rosa in the River Run. Describe what you believe are Jessica’s motivations for making this decision, and whether or not you think she achieved her prescribed goals.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing the novel’s theme of self-acceptance. Why is it difficult for Jessica to accept herself post-surgery, and how does she demonstrate improvement in this respect throughout the novel?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 783 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample