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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 new development in the fundraising efforts does Kyro announce the next day in Part IV?

2. Who gets in contact with Jessica when she hears about the River Run?

3. Where does Jessica stop by on Sunday during her morning run in Part V?

4. Why does Gavin ask Jessica when she says he does not have to walk with her?

5. What does Ms. Rucker ask Jessica at school the day after the track meet in Part III?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do Jessica’s teammates urge her to wear her shorts?

2. What does Jessica say is the goal for taking Rosa on the River Run?

3. How does Kyro say Jessica can thank him for raising the money for her running leg?

4. Why is Jessica hesitant to expose her fake leg?

5. In what way does Rosa open Jessica’s eyes about the concept of the finish line?

6. Why does Jessica snap at Marla Sumner during an interview for another Channel 7 News segment?

7. What does Jessica tell Ms. Rucker when she asks if she is going to move back to her old seat?

8. Why does Jessica start running with a wheelchair full of plant soil?

9. What does Merryl say to Jessica about Gavin that she finds very upsetting?

10. What does Jessica decide about herself when she completes the River Run?

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

Write an essay exploring how Jessica’s sense of self-worth changes and develops throughout the novel. Explore how her warped beliefs about her ability to live a happy and normal life shifts and the impact of her change in attitude.

Essay Topic 3

Toward the middle of the novel Jessica meets Chloe, Hank’s secretary and a fellow BK amputee. Jessica also discovers videos online of amputees running track. How do these experiences help Jessica, and what does she learn from them?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 835 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample