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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. Where does the man work when he is fourteen years old?

2. Who says that Mrs. Zamora's request is crazy?

3. What carries words away like seeds in visualization?

4. Which professional sports team does Brent view as losers?

5. What does Brent want from the judge?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Brent spend the hours right before the party?

2. What are the specific tasks that Brent must perform for restitution? How does he react to the request?

3. How does Steph honor the whirligig? How does she honor Alexandra? Why would honoring the whirligig and her best friend be important to Steph?

4. Is Brent still preoccupied with his own life in Chapter 3? Give details to support.

5. How is the wooden marching band whirligig a contradiction in terms of Flaco's life? Does he see it as such? Use details to support.

6. What are Lea's mother's memories of learning about her daughter's death? What does she think of doing after hearing the news? What makes her change her mind?

7. What does Brent recall about the automobile accident? How do his parents try to keep him from knowing facts about the accident?

8. What is Brent's primary focus as he dresses for the party? Support with details.

9. At the beginning of Chapter 3, where is Brent Bishop? What thoughts are going through his mind?

10. Summarize the transition from Brent's suicide attempt in Chapter 1 to the two friends' whirligig adventure in Chapter 2. What is the significance of the transition?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mrs. Zamora states that the universe required her daughter to die in the accident. What has the universe required of Brent following the accident? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the symbolism of the whirligig and its ability to sew seeds of wishes into the future. Does the whirligig really have that power, or do the characters using guided imagery actually bring about their desired outcomes through their own actions?

Essay Topic 3

Brent is forever changed after the automobile accident. Describe the old Brent as a person? How has he changed physically, mentally, and spiritually?

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This section contains 904 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample