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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 Shirley hope Yolanda will teach her?

2. Why would Andrew not want to do drugs?

3. How does Yolanda make the rest of the kids feel?

4. What tension is there at Asphalt Hill?

5. What does Yolanda miss about her former home?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Yolanda tell herself as she is running to Asphalt Hill?

2. What is Yolanda thinking about as the novel opens?

3. Who does Andrew meet when he arrives for his reading lesson?

4. How does Vic use music to make a connection with Andrew?

5. How does Shirley react to what Yolanda tells her?

6. Why does Andrew go to Asphalt Hill?

7. Why is the darker side of Asphalt Hill, and what are Andrews thoughts about that?

8. Who is impressed by Yolanda and why?

9. Describe Andrew's encounter with the drug pushers at Asphalt Hill.

10. What gives Yolanda comfort in her new home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes "Yolonda's Genius" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Yolanda. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Andrew. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Shirley Piper. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Carol Fenner.

2. What in Carol Fenner's background may have helped her in writing "Yolonda's Genius"? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of interesting questions raised by "Yolonda's Genius"--questions that Fenner may wish readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Fenner's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Fenner's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

(see the answer keys)

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