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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 Calli see when she looks around her room?

2. When does Calli tend to avoid her father?

3. Who comes by to pick up Calli's father?

4. What can Ben not seem to get?

5. What is Calli trying to figure out?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Calli's father do after Roger comes by?

2. How does Calli's previous times playing in the woods help her now?

3. What is Martin and Fielda's relationship like?

4. What does Martin reflect about concerning his childhood?

5. What is Louis willing to do to solve this case and what does he think about concerning Antonia?

6. Why does Petra hear a noise and what does she decide to do?

7. What does Ben want to do and what does he think about as far as Calli being in the woods?

8. How has Calli's bathroom crisis worsened and what does she decide to do?

9. What does Calli need to do when she wakes up early one morning?

10. How are Fielda and Martin responding to what they see as a lack of action?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Weight of Silence 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?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in The Weight of Silence.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of The Weight of Silence. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of The Weight of Silence. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 3

It seems as if the reality of the situation isn't reaching through to Antonia. She can't believe her daughter's room is being taped off. She is basing the scenario on past situations. Calli was always wandering. As she filters through a mental list of people she should contact, the reader realizes that Antonia is very much alone. She doesn't want to voice that there is a problem because then she would have to accept that this was true. The reader can't help but wonder if this is symbolic of Calli's muteness.

1. Discuss denial in the context of the above statement with your thoughts on why Antonia might be in denial. Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

2. Discuss the isolation in which Antonia finds herself in the context of living with an alcoholic and abusive spouse. Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

3. Do you think it is human nature to not state a problem out loud because that would make it real? Why or why not? Do you think this means Antonia is a bad mother? Why or why not? Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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