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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. Why does Tony laugh at his last entry?

2. What is circling the old house on Kansas Street?

3. What is Tony doing while the teacher tells the students to write in their journals?

4. Grandma puts on a dress made of what material?

5. What pledge does Tony break while on summer vacation?

Short Essay Questions

1. What effect do her parents' actions concerning their Jewish heritage have on Jenny?

2. Where does the drive take Jenny and Grandma?

3. Emil makes a comment to Brent that his father had told him that teachers live forever through their students. When Brent hears this, what person in his past comes to mind? What do her words mean to Brent at the time she speaks to him? What realization has Emil's sharing brought to Brent?

4. Why does Brent refuse to use the Visa card which his parents have given him for the trip? What does this say about his new sense of responsibility?

5. As Brent steps into the hostel's dining hall, he sees a bearded man playing a concertina for the guests. Why does Brent admire this man? What is Brent thinking as he watches the bearded man entertain?

6. What does Grandma know at the beginning of the journey that Jenny does not know? What makes the ride even more poignant with Jenny?

7. How does the boy's interest in the whirligig affect Brent?

8. When the chapter ends, what does Tony do that connects the little boy to his great-grandfather?

9. Why is it easy for Brent to interact with the children as he builds the whirligig?

10. About what do the children warn Brent regarding the location of the wooden band whirligig?

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 tangible and intangible gifts Emil shares with Brent. How do the two kinds of gifts interact?

Essay Topic 3

What does Mrs. Zamora hope to gain from Brent's restitution? Has this goal been achieved? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 902 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample