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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 does Jennifer try to get Lia to do before Jennifer leaves?

2. Who does Cassie ask to escort her to Cassie's funeral?

3. What does Lia hope will silence Cassie's voice inside Lia's head?

4. What does Lia microwave?

5. What is Lia's family doing when she gets home?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lia do after dinner and when her father comes in to her bedroom?

2. What does Lia have for breakfast and what is her hope will happen as a result?

3. How does Lia make it appear as though she has eaten when she is home that afternoon?

4. What does Elijah tell Lia and why does she tell him her name is Emma?

5. What does Lia feel as she thinks about Cassie's body in the morgue?

6. What does Lia do against the advice of her parents and what does Lia keep imagining?

7. What does Elijah ask Lia and what does Lia do in response?

8. How does Lia get out of going to school that morning and where does she go?

9. What does Lia feel when she wakes the next morning?

10. What does Lia go read on her computer after the detectives leave?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Cassie and Lia. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Lia's Mother and Lia's Father. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in "Wintergirls" help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

Essay Topic 2

At the movie theater, Lia cuts her hips with a razorblade, another form of self-mutilation. Cutting is a different type of pain than starvation. It is immediate, and many cutters feel the need to self-harm when faced with extremely painful emotion. Because they cannot control the emotional pain, they feel the need to control their physical pain, creating a physical outlet for what is happening inside them. Clearly, this is what is happening with Lia. The visit to the motel had a profound emotional effect on her but she does not have the coping skills to deal with her grief. She is too controlled to cry or ask for help so her pain needs a different outlet: a physical one.

1. Explain what you think are the reasons that Lia cuts herself. Use examples from your own life and "Wintergirls" to support your reasoning.

2. Do you think it is always necessary to control emotional pain? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and "Wintergirls" to support your reasoning.

3. What do you think are some of the coping skills a teenager might use to deal with emotional pain? Use examples from your own life and "Wintergirls" to support your reasoning.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in this book. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of guilt in the book. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to feel guilty for his/her actions? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of control in "Wintergirls". Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to need control? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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