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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 impresses Mclean most about the dinner?

2. Who is Mclean's little stepbrother?

3. Why is Gus pleased about the inclement weather?

4. Why does Mclean become defensive of Opal with her father?

5. What had Mclean's parents not realized about her?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is unusual about Mclean's seeing her mother on TV when David and his father are over watching the game?

2. In what ways does Mclean begin to see her mother in a new light?

3. How does Mclean learn about her father's new job in Hawaii and how does she feel about going there?

4. What does Mclean offer to do in exchange for her mother dropping the new custody arrangement?

5. How does Mclean feel about being in this town after living here for two months?

6. What does Mclean learn about why her mother has met with an attorney?

7. What is different about this new place for Mclean and her father that typically doesn't happen?

8. Where does Mclean go after she leaves the beach house and who does she call to comfort her?

9. How does Mclean's mother respond when Mclean confronts her on the phone about the choices her mother has made that have impacted their lives?

10. How is this trip to the beach different from other trips there for Mclean and her mother?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Mclean's father. What did he look like? What were his positive personality traits? What were his dreams and fears? What was most valuable to him in his world?

Essay Topic 2

Describe Opal. What is her role in the story? What was the author trying to accomplish by developing Opal's character in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Describe Mclean's relationship with her mother. How does she feel about her even though she has made her life difficult at times? Is the relationship especially difficult because of Mclean's mother's infidelity and the subsequent divorce? How does Mclean's kindness and forgiveness help define their important bond?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,097 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample