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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. Where do Sissie's brothers want to go?

2. Which of the following is a new addition to Sissie's family in the second summer?

3. What can Sissie see from her seat as she plays a game?

4. Which of the following people are at home taking care of a child in the second summer?

5. How does Sissie describe her mother in the first summer detailed?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the idea of life and death explored in the text in part 1?

2. What has changed in Sissie's life between the first two summers narrated?

3. According to Sissie, what would her father think about Jesse and why?

4. What foreshadowing is present in the first part of the story, and what is foreshadowed?

5. Compare and contrast Jerry and his father.

6. Why does Sissie call her encounter with the mysterious man a "game"?

7. Describe Sissie's mother in the beginning of the story.

8. Why does Sissie say that her father looks like a stranger?

9. After reading about Sissie's first summer experience at the tavern, what predictions can be made about the rest of the story?

10. Why is Sissie self-conscious of herself by Part 3?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the hierarchy of the sexes is the book? What are the expectations of women? What are the expectations of men? How does this relate to Sissie?

Essay Topic 2

What role does the idea of image versus reality play in the book? What does Sissie imagine the world to be? In truth, how does the world differ? How does this affect Sissie's life?

Essay Topic 3

Who or what is the protagonist in "Four Summers"? Why? Who or what is the antagonist in "Four Summers" and how does the reader know this? What role do both the protagonist and antagonist play in the story?

(see the answer keys)

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