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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 sports do Asa and Dave build their relationship on?

2. Counting the new house in this story, how many houses has Asa lived in during his life?

3. What do Asa's cousins do that bothers him?

4. Which sport does Dave not think much of when Asa asks him to help him?

5. Why do Asa and his mother have to return home instead of going to Raleigh?

Short Essay Questions

1. What sport does Dave not like very much but he agrees to help Asa practice so Asa can try out for a team?

2. What are the conditions in which Asa does not force his mother to take her medication?

3. Why does Asa's mother decide that she no longer wants to take her antidepressant medication?

4. What is Asa's mother's psychological condition and what responsibility does Asa have for her on a daily basis?

5. What is so unusual about Asa's being in the same school for three years and what has Jean observed about Asa during this time?

6. How does Asa finally get the nice bedroom and why does Dave often walk in without knocking?

7. How does the author let the reader have some sympathy for Dave as a result of his relationship with Asa's mother?

8. How does Dave injure Asa during baseball practice and what does Asa do to retaliate?

9. Where do Dave and Asa take Asa's mother after she tried to commit suicide and what event will Asa miss as a result?

10. What grade is Asa in in "What Hearts" and who is the girl he loves?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"What Hearts" is a classic example of a coming-of-age story. What does that classification entail? Why does this book fit into this category?

Essay Topic 2

Describe Joel. What is his role in the story, "Not Blue"? What was the author trying to accomplish by developing Joel's character in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

What is the greatest lesson Asa learns from Jean? Is it that important lessons are also painful ones? What will Asa always recall about his first love?

(see the answer keys)

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