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 type of music does Melody describe as her mother's favorite in Chapter 2?

2. How does Melody say Jill came to be disabled in Chapter 5?

3. What disability does Maria have?

4. Melody says in Chapter 6 that Mrs. V is the only person who lets her do what?

5. How old was Melody when her mother had gotten her potty trained?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Melody describe her school in Chapter 5? Where does Melody go to class?

2. How does Melody describe her mother's pregnancy in Chapter 9?

3. How does Melody describe the importance and meaning of "words" in Chapter 1?

4. How does Melody describe the communication between her and her mother in Chapter 10?

5. What are Melody's thoughts about Mrs. Billups? What grade does Mrs. Billups teach?

6. How does Melody describe her communication with her father in Chapter 10?

7. What exchange takes place between Mrs. Brooks and Mrs. Billups in Chapter 7?

8. How does Mrs. Brooks respond to Dr. Hugely's assessment of Melody in Chapter 4?

9. How have Melody's circumstances changed as she enters fifth grade in Chapter 11?

10. What kind of dog is Butterscotch? How does Melody describe Butterscotch?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Melody blame herself for the accident involving Penny? Is Melody in any way at fault for the accident? Who reassures Melody as she waits for word on Penny from the hospital? How?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the character of Mrs. V in the novel. What does Mrs. V look like? How would you describe Mrs. V's relationship with Melody? What does Mrs. V do to encourage Melody in the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the themes of communication and language in the novel. What do words represent symbolically to Melody? How does Melody communicate with her parents, teachers, and peers? How does Melody's ability to communicate evolve in the narrative?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 845 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample