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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Ellen's father stroke while he is yelling at Ellen and her mother?
(a) A cat.
(b) His beard.
(c) A pocketknife.
(d) His arm.

2. What animal does Ellen hope her pony would scare away?
(a) Snakes.
(b) Bears.
(c) Mountain lions.
(d) Coyotes.

3. What is Nadine's response to the drive through this part of town?
(a) She locks her doors.
(b) She did not have a response.
(c) She asks to stop for some coffee.
(d) She rolls up the window.

4. What does Ellen do when her mother goes to bed?
(a) Went to bed with her.
(b) Nothing.
(c) Called the police.
(d) Cried.

5. In Ellen's new life with her new mama, what runs smoothly?
(a) Her mother's heart.
(b) Her horse.
(c) Her car.
(d) Her world.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is Ellen's friend that attends the funeral?

2. How does Ellen's father die?

3. What item does Ellen's new mama never seem to run out of?

4. What name does the well-to-do relative call Ellen's father?

5. What bad habit does Dora have?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ellen feel that she is better off being a ward of the county rather than being in the custody of her father?

2. What gifts does Ellen buy herself for Christmas?

3. What are some of the fun and leisure activities Ellen is granted in her new home?

4. What event leads to Ellen's removal from her father's care?

5. In Chapter 2, how does Ellen hint at favoritism towards her mother's family?

6. At the funeral, why does Ellen avoid looking at her mother's grave?

7. How is Ellen wearing her mother's clothes symbolic to the story?

8. How does the author create a reversal of the mother-daughter role in the novel?

9. How does Ellen's grandmother cause a scene at the funeral?

10. How does Ellen's selection of gifts show that Ellen has to take responsibility for herself?

(see the answer keys)

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