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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. Who is Stoney Buxton?

2. Where is Yolanda's old crush Tyrone?

3. What does Yolanda realize when she reads the word definition?

4. What did Andrew not know about what was in his pocket?

5. What makes Yolanda feel better when she is thinking about her old home?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Who is Andrew's teacher and why is she scolding him?

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

4. Why does Momma decide to move from Chicago?

5. How is the cake when Yolanda returns from the park with Andrew?

6. What gives Yolanda comfort in her new home?

7. What does Shirley say about double-dutch that causes Yolanda great discomfort?

8. Where has Yolanda chosen to sit in her classroom and why?

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

10. What is the other terrible thing that has happened recently?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Yolanda is eleven throughout much of the novel. Discuss the following:

1. What are some ways that Yolanda seems like an average eleven year old? Give examples and why you say her activities are average teen activities.

2. What are some ways that Yolanda seems older than her age of 11? Give specific examples and discuss whether they seem consistent with the character of Yolanda as she is developed throughout the book.

3. Do you think most eleven year old girls would look out for their six-year-old brother in the ways Yolanda does? Why or why not.

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

1. What is foreshadowing? How many incidences of foreshadow are in "Yolonda's Genius"? How does foreshadowing contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadowing in this story, including why you believe it is foreshadowing. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from "Yolonda's Genius" and your own live to support your opinion.

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