View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does a substitute at school once refuse to do?

2. What does Martin do after his wife leaves for Iowa City?

3. Where had the person brought in been found?

4. Who is brought in to the station?

5. Where does Martin send Ben?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Calli and Antonia doing when Ben arrives at the hospital?

2. What is Louis told about Charles Wilson?

3. What does Louis think of doing in the next election and what does he think will be some people's reaction?

4. What does Louis see in the trees and why doesn't he immediately investigate?

5. Why does Louis' wife call him and what does she say?

6. What do Martin and Fielda not allow Petra to do and what explanation do they give?

7. What happens when Ben finds Griff, Calli and Petra?

8. Who are a couple men the police are looking into?

9. What is Calli's perspective of running for help and arriving to see Louis and her mom?

10. What hat do Ben's thoughts reveal about the situation with Jason Meechum?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think The Weight of Silence is? Explain your response.

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

Antonia cares for her son, making sure he eats. She reflects on her life choices, realizing that Louis was all she ever needed. When she felt abandoned by him, she cut him off, ending out on the path that led her to a very unhappy marriage. She knows that Griff has a good side to him, and part of her loves him. However, his drinking is more important to him, and it turns him into an unlovable man. Antonia can't help thinking she destroys everything she is a part of even though her children adore her.

1. Why do you think Louis would begin to look better to Antonia in the situation in the book? Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

2. Discuss why you think Antonia married Griff when Louis went off to college. Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

3. Why do you think Antonia thinks she destroys everything of which she is a part? What examples are there in the text that support and do not support this belief. Use examples from you own life and the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,284 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample