View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What warning does Mrs. Trotter firmly give Gilly after Gilly comments about the TV show William Ernest was watching?

2. In chapter 2, what does Gilly think her mother's reaction would be if she found out about Gilly's situation at dinner?

3. What does Gilly find when she pulls an encyclopedia from Mr. Randolph's bookshelf?

4. How much total money did Gilly get ?

5. What happens when Mr. Randolph suggests Gilly read the Bible to them?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Gilly and Agnes have in common?

2. What is Gilly thinking after meeting her new foster mother, Mrs. Trotter?

3. What does Agnes Stokes take for granted about Gilly?

4. At the end of Chapter 5, why won't Gilly look over her shoulder at Mrs. Trotter?

5. What is Gilly's usual trick to get her teachers upset about her abilities?

6. What does Gilly ask to be allowed to do that surprises Mrs. Trotter?

7. What makes Gilly change her mind and comb her hair for her first day of school?

8. What does Gilly do at recess on the playground?

9. What is upsetting to Gilly after she plays her joke on Miss Harris?

10. What is so special to Gilly about the photo she carries with her from foster home to foster home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Have the students write an essay about Gilly's tendency to believe she is better than anyone else. Does it go beyond high self-esteem to the point of conceit? What drives her to be better, smarter, stronger, etc.? Is there anything wrong with feeling that way? If so, what?

Essay Topic 2

Have the students try to determine what William Ernest's problem really is and write an essay about it. Is he mentally slow as Gilly first thinks? Or, is he developmentally slow for a different reason? Perhaps, he is just very shy. What in the novel reveals some things about William Ernest's past that may explain his problem?

Essay Topic 3

In an essay explain the effect leaving has on Gilly. What happens when she has a nightmare the night before she is to leave? What does Mrs. Trotter do and say to help her with the adjustment of moving? What does this tell readers about Mrs. Trotter and Gilly's relationship dynamics?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 826 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample