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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 does Lew hurt his legs?

2. When does Nancy go to her dad's during the holidays in the January diary entries?

3. Who is interviewing Nancy at the beginning of June?

4. Where does Nancy lose her diary in January?

5. What colors are Nancy's band?

Short Essay Questions

1. What problem does Dorie face that Nancy writes about in January?

2. What happens between Dorie and Fred at the end of February?

3. What is Doodle Day at Nancy's school?

4. What is the problem Nancy runs into with her medicine in March?

5. Why is Nancy "living in Heaven" at the beginning of February?

6. What did Nancy and her dad do on New Year's Day?

7. How does Nancy feel about her school in Phoenix?

8. Why do Nancy and her dad go to Mass at the beginning of September?

9. What does Nancy want to do at Buttercup Lake with Dorie?

10. Why is Nancy happy about the results of the state math report?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The "gaggle," Nancys' group of girlfriends, which later brings Lew into the mix as its lone "gander," is an important part of Nancy's life. Write a response focusing on the importance of the gaggle to the story and to Nancy. What role does the gaggle play in the book? Why are they important both to the story and to Nancy personally? Use specific references to the text in the response.

Essay Topic 2

The central conflict of the story is Nancy's diagnosis of HIV/AIDS. The story focuses on her contracting the disease and battling it until she dies. Write a response exploring the role of HIV/AIDS in the story. How is the disease presented? How does the disease's presence in the story shape the events of the book? Use specific references to the text in the response.

Essay Topic 3

There are several characters present in the story that play a major role, in addition to Nancy as the main character. Choose three main or major characters and write a response focusing on their development throughout the story. How does each character change from the beginning of the story until the end? What role does each character play in the book's central conflict? Use specific references to the text in the response.

(see the answer keys)

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