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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 sits atop the new whirligig?
2. Why does Grandma ask Jenny to stop in the middle of a street?
3. Why does Brent like being in Texas?
4. As Chapter 5 begins, what city is Brent's next destination?
5. What does Brent study during breaks from building the third whirligig?
Short Essay Questions
1. What does Grandma know at the beginning of the journey that Jenny does not know? What makes the ride even more poignant with Jenny?
2. Why does Brent enjoy returning to the Sand Dollar Cafe?
3. What does Tony tell Mr. Mintz about his summer vacation? How does Mr. Mintz use this information to help Tony?
4. What are some of Jenny's parents' actions that lead them away from their Jewish heritage? Why do they try to forget their roots?
5. Why is it easy for Brent to interact with the children as he builds the whirligig?
6. 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?
7. What is the shape of Brent's new whirligig? What sits on top? How long does it take to build? What virtue does Brent display while creating the intricate display?
8. About what do the children warn Brent regarding the location of the wooden band whirligig?
9. What does Brent resolve to do as he reads his star guide book? How is he already accomplishing his goal with the whirligigs?
10. How does the boy's interest in the whirligig affect Brent?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
1) Discuss in detail at least three instances where Brent blames others for his own mistakes.
2) Explore how Brent could have saved himself a lot of unnecessary pain by taking ownership of his actions in each of the three incidents.
Essay Topic 2
Whirligigs affect people of all ages in the book. Select two characters who are from different generations and describe how their individual experience with a whirligig is unique to their age.
Essay Topic 3
In Chapter 2, the author makes an abrupt transition from Brent's suicide attempt to two young girls' whirligig adventure. Why does the author choose such a transition? Does it add more depth to the story line? Compare the author's transition with a more predictable plot that would continue with the aftermath of Brent's probable tragedy.
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This section contains 950 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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