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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 is the name of the establishment where Miranda works?

2. Why do the children have to go to the hospital?

3. What happens when Chick is hungry and Lil does not come to feed him?

4. How does the family measure the value of the children?

5. How does Chick react to circus life?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of Mariposa and her horse's accident?

2. Describe Olympia's appearance.

3. What is Arturism?

4. Why is Chick almost abandoned by the Binewski family?

5. How does Oly gain access to Miss Lick's life?

6. What happens when Arty asks Chick to make him a roast beef sandwich?

7. What is the unusual offer that Miranda been approached about, and how does she react?

8. What does Oly keep in the chest in her apartment?

9. Describe how we first see Oly's adult life.

10. Describe the invention that Zephr McGurk brings to Arty.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

As the novel progresses, it becomes clearer and clearer that Arty has taken full control of his family. In an essay, explore the progression of Arty's gradual control of the family through the course of the novel. Explain what you think is the psychology behind Arty's need for control. Is he an inherently "bad" person, or is it something deeper that Arty is searching for? Choose one of Arty's siblings and express how his control has affected that sibling's life - either positively or negatively.

Essay Topic 2

The twins' 14th birthday is also representative of major changes for the twins. In an essay, describe the changes that occur for the twins and what the twins realize about themselves from these changes. How do these changes affect the twins' "place" within the family?

Essay Topic 3

Pride is another emotion that runs heavily through the characters of the novel. In an essay, explain how have you seen pride and control intermingle throughout the text. Compare/contrast Arty's pride versus Oly's pride as well as the pride that Miss Lick has in her projects versus the pride that she hopes to gift her projects.

(see the answer keys)

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