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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. How does Calli think her father has crossed a line?

2. How does Ben see himself?

3. How do Antonia and Martin differ?

4. Who supports Antonia more than Griff?

5. What do the testers decide to teach Calli?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Martin reflect about concerning his childhood?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels end on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of The Weight of Silence and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why The Weight of Silence is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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