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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 Zim say everyone does?

2. What does Levi notice when Christina returns?

3. Who comes to dinner?

4. Why does Levi love sitting next to Pearl?

5. Why is it incongruous where Pearl goes to school?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Zim and what does he have in common with Levi?

2. What does Zim say to Levi's statement about Boaz and how does Levi respond?

3. How do Amanda and Abba respond differently to Boaz's behavior?

4. What does Zim say in response to Levi's talking about Boaz and what is Levi's response?

5. Why does Levi feel like a sneak and thief?

6. What does Levi tell Zim and Pearl about Boaz while they are at the yogurt shop?

7. What does Boaz say he is going to do that Abba and Dov think is good, and why does Levi think Boaz is lying?

8. What happens as Boaz and Christina return from a walk?

9. What does Levi say about Boaz as a brother?

10. What does Levi say Boaz does on the computer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Levi senses that his parents are too close to the situation and too emotional to help Boaz. He has growing concerns about Boaz. He thinks he is planning something and, given his psychological state, Levi fears that it could be disastrous. He knows that it's very unhealthy for Boaz to be isolating himself. His parents and grandparents are in denial. Even though Levi has some feelings of envy and bitterness about his brother who has always gotten more attention than he has, at least in his mind, Levi is showing how much he cares for his brother.

1. Do you think Levi's parents' emotions could be affecting their judgment? How could that happen? Use examples from The Things a Brother Knows and your own life to support your answer.

2. Discuss the problems that could occur from Boaz isolating himself. Use examples from The Things a Brother Knows and your own life to support your answer.

3. Why do you think Levi might envy his brother? Use examples from The Things a Brother Knows and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss The Things a Brother Knows based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if The Things a Brother Knows is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider The Things a Brother Knows a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 3

The Things a Brother Knows belongs to the young adult novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the young adult novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young adult novel and a historical novel mystery?

(see the answer keys)

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