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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 need to do badly?

2. How does Martin think of Petra's creativity?

3. How does Calli feel about school?

4. Who supports Antonia more than Griff?

5. What is happening to Fielda?

Short Essay Questions

1. What surreal scene is described concerning Calli and a fawn?

2. What is Ben's dream about and how is he feeling?

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

4. What does Calli express about her father?

5. How does the school nurse treat Calli's accidents?

6. What does Antonia do in her search for the girls and how is she like Martin concerning her daughter?

7. What does Antonia reflect about concerning Calli when Calli stops talking?

8. How does Ben see himself and what does he think about concerning the relationship among Calli, his father and himself?

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

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

Characters are an important part of what makes The Weight of Silence interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Calli. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Antonia. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Griff. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

4. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Louis. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think The Weight of Silence is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

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.

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