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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 volunteer to do the day of the concert?

2. How does Yolanda feel about Aunt Tiny's proposal?

3. What does the store owner think of Andrew's playing?

4. How does Yolanda enjoy the first concert?

5. What inspires Yolanda for solving her dilemma about talking to a performer?

Short Essay Questions

1. What idea does Momma bring up while they are traveling that disturbs Yolanda?

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

3. Why doesn't there seem to be any way back stage?

4. What happens when Yolanda notices three men eying her momma?

5. Why does Yolanda volunteer to reserve her family's seats for the concert that evening?

6. What does Momma say in reply to Yolanda saying Andrew is a genius and needs a special school?

7. What happens when Yolanda and Andrew visit Stellers music store?

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

9. What "epiphany" does Yolanda have when she is at the park?

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

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

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think "Yolonda's Genius" is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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