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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. Which of the following is listed as an ingredient in an ancient Egyptian “cure” for deafness?

2. With which of the following does the twenty-seventh chapter of the novel begin?

3. With which of the following does the forty-fifth chapter of the novel begin?

4. With which of the following does the forty-fourth chapter of the novel begin?

5. Which of the following does Austin’s family serve for dinner on New Year’s Eve?

Short Essay Questions

1. What habit are Charlie and her mother shocked to realize they share?

2. To what does Charlie compare her mother unboxing her new cochlear implant equipment (202)?

3. What reasons are given for setting off fireworks in the parked car on New Year’s Eve?

4. How does Austin’s mother describe hearing culture (211)?

5. How does Charlie deflect her mother’s suspicion after her burglary?

6. How does Charlie describe her social standing at her old school?

7. What curricular reforms does Kayla purpose to enact?

8. What does Charlie note as the question she most hates being asked?

9. What does Charlie note most liking about her grandmother’s visits?

10. Why do February’s mother and Mel’s father express appreciation for stuffing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

For any one character in the text, explain how the text presents that character as a token, noting of what group that character is a token and how the tokenism affects the narrative.

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, some characters are given but one name, while others are given first- and surnames, and still others are accorded names and titles. What significance, if any, accrues to patterns of naming in the novel? If no significance accrues, what purpose might be served by the patterns of naming in the novel? How does True Biz bear as much out?

Essay Topic 3

Amid February’s musings early in the novel is a linguistic concept described as “the ‘critical window,’ within which a child had to gain fluency in at least one language, any language, or risk permanent cognitive damage. Once the window shut, learning anything became difficult, even impossible—without a language, how does one think, or even feel?” (17). Does the concept bear out in the novel and in experience? How so, or how not?

(see the answer keys)

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