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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 Yolanda do in dressing for the concert?

2. How does Yolanda's mother dress when they go out to dinner?

3. What is one question Yolanda asks while she is at the park?

4. What does Yolanda lie about to the two women she is talking with at the park?

5. How does Yolanda feel about her current teacher?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Momma want Yolanda to study in college and what are Yolanda's ambitions?

2. Why does Yolanda not say goodbye to anyone when her family is leaving to go visit Aunt Tiny?

3. How does Yolanda feel after Shirley leaves and what does she say to her aunt Tiny about Shirley?

4. Why is Yolanda unable to listen as the concert opens?

5. How does Yolanda explain all her questions to the security guards?

6. Describe Yolanda's family's first night with Aunt Tiny.

7. Who admires Yolanda standing up to Romulus, and what is Yolanda's response to his admiration?

8. What happens when Momma finally notices Andrew's new harmonica?

9. What does Aunt Tiny do for a living, and how does that help Yolanda's family?

10. What happens that gives Yolanda an idea about how to get back stage?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "Yolonda's Genius". 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 human genius in "Yolonda's Genius". Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why? What do you think Yolanda would label as genius?

3. Trace and analyze the themes of bullying and prejudice in "Yolonda's Genius". Who are bullies? Who stands up to bullies? Who does not? Why do those who bully do so? Who is prejudice? What type of prejudice? What do you think is the result of Yolanda's prejudice? Who is able to change from being a bully? From prejudice?

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols, then trace and analyze their appearance in "Yolonda's Genius". Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Fenner chooses the symbols she does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in "Yolonda's Genius". Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Fenner chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Fenner's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliffhangers, deux ex machina, etc.), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Fenner use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme.)

Essay Topic 3

"Yolonda's Genius" belongs to the teen fiction genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the teen fiction genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a teen fiction and teen historical fiction?

(see the answer keys)

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