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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 changed her kindergarten teacher's opinion?

2. Where does Antonia think Griff has gone?

3. What does Calli decide to do?

4. What does Calli need to do badly?

5. What does Calli do as her father is taking her there?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Who is banging on Antonia's door and what do they want?

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

4. What does Calli express about her father?

5. What does Calli think about as her father is dragging her off into the woods?

6. What happens when Calli's father sees her?

7. What does Martin reflect about concerning his childhood?

8. What does Louis tell Fitzgerald about Griff?

9. What do Fielda and Martin do in searching for Petra?

10. What are Antonia's reflections about Louis and Griff?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

She reflects on the fact that she wasn't proactive enough when Calli first stopped talking. In a way, her daughter began to go missing then. She expresses doubt over the relationship between her husband and Calli for the first time when she realizes that she never asked Griff what he told the girl. She never asked Calli, either. She is very appreciative of Ben. He supports her more than her husband.

1. Research the concept of co-dependency and discuss that concept in regards to Ben and Antonia. Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

2. Do you think Antonia should have done more than she did when Calli quit talking? Why or why not? What do you think she should have done? Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

3. What do you think is meant by the statement that Calli started to go missing the day she quit talking? Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Calli's father has a drinking problem. He is moody as a result of this. When he's not drinking, he's a wonderful father, but when he is drinking Calli tries to stay away from him. The problem each day is that she never knows when she goes downstairs whether or not he is drinking alcohol. At the end of the chapter, the reader realizes that the father doesn't believe he really is Calli's father, and he's bitter about the fact.

1. Discuss what you think constitutes a drinking problem. Talk about symptoms, duration, behavior and changes in a person. Does Griff have a drinking problem according to what you define as a drinking problem? Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

2. How do you think the inconsistency of Griff's behavior affects his family's life? Do you think it would be better if he was a bad father all the time rather than just when drinking? Why or why not? Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

3. Do you think believing your wife has a child by another man is cause enough for drinking or is it only an excuse? Why or why not? Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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