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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. When having dinner at Phoebe's, what food reminds Sal of her mother?

2. How many brothers does Mary Lou have?

3. When Phoebe is driving Sal crazy, what does Ben think is her main problem?

4. What does Mrs. Winterbottom do after the Phoebe and Sal return home from school?

5. When Phoebe goes downstairs to say goodnight to her father, what does she notice he had been doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think that the whispers changed from saying "rush, rush," to "slow down, slow down"?

2. Why does the blackberry pie trigger a negative memory for Sal?

3. Why was the fact that Sugar cut her long hair important?

4. Why does Sal flinch every time someone touches her?

5. What do you think Mrs. Winterbottom means when she asks whether her daughters think she leads a tiny life?

6. How does Megan catch Phoebe in her lie about where her mother is?

7. Why did both Sal and Phoebe lie about where their mothers were when they first left?

8. Why does Phoebe think that Margaret is a murderer?

9. Why were Grandparents Hiddle arrested, and what does this show about them?

10. Why does Sal feel guilty about her mother's miscarriage?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why is Sal angry at her mother for leaving? What does being angry accomplish for Sal?

Essay Topic 2

What does the title of the story mean? Why do you think the author chose this title for the story? Use specific examples from the novel to support your points.

Essay Topic 3

How does the point of view affect the story? How would the story be different if it was told from another point of view?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 733 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample