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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. How is Mrs. Bruning when she comes home?

2. Why is Hector upset?

3. What was the main course of the dinner Peter's grandmother made for him and his parents?

4. What has Russell found?

5. Where does the music group gather at the ice cream store?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Peter call his grandmother and why is he at her house?

2. Where does Hector find Meadow, and why is he embarrassed?

3. What does Hector do while waiting for the fireworks?

4. What does Debbie think of Dan Persik?

5. How does Debbie's necklace end up in a tar patch after Dan picked it up?

6. With what is Lenny helping his father in Chapter 16, and what is Debbie doing when she overhears them?

7. How is Mrs. Bruning when she comes home from the hospital and to what does she agree with Peter's parents?

8. What is Mrs. Bruning's response about Debbie, and what does Mrs. Bruning give Debbie?

9. What is Hector thinking when he walks the sidewalk after a light rain?

10. What has Debbie convinced her mother of, and what does she find in her mother's mementos box?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Criss Cross" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Criss Cross" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "Criss Cross". 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 knowing oneself in "Criss Cross". Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of parents and teenagers in "Criss Cross". Consider the silence between Debbie and her mother and Lenny and his father working together.

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 Lynne Rae Perkins.

2. What in Perkins's background may have helped her in writing "Criss Cross"? 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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