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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. Why does Ruby ride with Nate to school on Monday morning?

2. What advice does Ruby give Nate?

3. What does Ruby understand about Cora's promise?

4. What happened to Ruby's mother?

5. What does Ruby realize about the ride to school in the morning?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Ruby go from the mall and what important piece of information does Marshall gain from the encounter?

2. What is Jaime showing Ruby at the opening to the novel and who else is there?

3. What new ad campaign does Jaime dream up and what are Cora and Ruby's responses?

4. What does Ruby learn at the fish store and what fish does Ruby choose?

5. What has Jaime bought for himself, Ruby, Cora and Roscoe and how do Ruby and Cora react?

6. Describe Gervais.

7. What decision has Ruby made concerning living with Cora and Jaime, but how does she hedge her bets?

8. What happens when Nate takes Ruby back to her former home?

9. How does Ruby come to get a job at the mall?

10. Who does Ruby meet in her literature class, and what do the two have in common?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of interesting questions raised by Lock and Key. Questions that Dessen most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of Dessen's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Dessen's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Dessen and see if/where her life may have influenced her writing.

Essay Topic 2

Harriett explains that in her family, someone is always mad at someone else and so the two are not speaking. However, later there will be some different argument so the two have to make up in order to band against someone else. Harriett seems to believe this is typical of families and Reggie says this explains a great deal about Harriett. His own thoughts about families are very different. He talks about shared history and beginnings. As they laugh at each other's thoughts, they both realize they are considered the black sheep of their respective families. Ruby will later come to discover that shared traits and situations are important to families and friendships.

1. Discuss Harriett's character explaining how the way her family interacts might have helped form the person she is as an adult. Use examples from Lock and Key and your own life to support your reasoning.

2. Discuss Reggie's character explaining how the way his family interacts might have helped form the person he is as an adult. Use examples from Lock and Key and your own life to support your reasoning.

3. Discuss, in detail, what issues you think Harriett and Reggie might have to deal with given their backgrounds and views on family if they were to ever get married. Use examples from Lock and Key and your own life to support your reasoning.

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Ruby and Cora. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Nate and Marshall. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in Lock and Key help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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