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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 when she notices three men looking at her mother in the restaurant?

2. What does Yolanda do in dressing for the concert?

3. What does Yolanda do for the first time in months?

4. What does Yolanda manage to do?

5. Why doesn't Andrew have any stage fright when he goes to play for the music store owner?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What does Yolanda do when she sees two female security guards?

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

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

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

8. What disturbs Yolanda about how Aunt Tiny fixes Yolanda's mother's hair?

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

10. Why does Yolanda send Shirley away in a cruel manner?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of "Yolonda's Genius" and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of "Yolonda's Genius" and why?

3. Which three secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Do any of the characters seem unnecessary? Which ones? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss "Yolonda's Genius" based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1, and judge if it is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider "Yolonda's Genius" a successful novel? What about teens?

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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