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. What surprise does Jessica’s mom bring for her to eat at the hospital?

2. What is the name of Jessica’s little sister?

3. What does Jessica try not to do when Kaylee comes home with her friends when Jessica is first home from the hospital?

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

5. What time does Sherlock wake Jessica up every morning?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do Jessica and her mom agree that Fiona is a great friend?

2. What is the significance of Jessica’s first running dream?

3. Why can Jessica not help but stare at Fiona’s legs when she comes to visit her?

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

5. Why is Jessica’s science teacher, Mr. Vedder, concerned about how her parents are doing?

6. Why is Jessica happy that she gets to sit next to Rosa?

7. What has Jessica nicknamed her prosthetist, Hank?

8. Why does Jessica decide that Gavin is not worth lusting over after he calls her at the hospital?

9. Why does Jessica tell her mom that she does not need to stay overnight with her at the hospital?

10. Why is Dad skeptical about the Help Jessica Run campaign?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Running Dream is categorized as a piece of coming-of-age young adult fiction. Analyze how the author incorporates and develops coming-of-age narrative conventions throughout the novel.

Essay Topic 2

A major theme in the novel is perseverance. Analyze the ways in which Jessica demonstrates physical and mental perseverance, considering both the things that deter and bolster her progress.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay in which you analyze the friendship that develops between Rosa and Jessica. What is the nature of their relationship at the beginning of the novel, and how does it grow throughout the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 708 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample