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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. Who is Brittany's sister?

2. Where does Alex drive Brittany to in Chapter 23?

3. What weapon does the rival gang member have when Alex arrives to help the boy in #47?

4. Who does Colin spend his time talking to at the baseball game?

5. Who is the gang recruiter seen with Carlos?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does being a Latino Blood gang member make Alex's life harder at school and in his home life?

2. Why does Brittany take more care of her sister than is necessary?

3. What does the author reveal about Brittany's life that is different from outside appearances?

4. Who is the teacher who shows some interest interest in Alex and his future?

5. In what way do Brittany and Alex have much in common?

6. What does Alex do as a result of Brittany's mother's dismissive behavior toward him?

7. How does Alex help take care of his widowed mother and two younger brothers?

8. What is the nature of the initial hostility between Alex and Brittany?

9. Why are Alex and Brittany punished after the first day in Chemistry class?

10. Why is Brittany initially resistant to Alex's flirtations?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the major settings for the novel. Why does Elkeles use the settings she does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the significance of the novel's title--"Perfect Chemistry". Why did Elkeles choose this title? Is there an understood message in the title? Is there another title you can suggest that might be more appropriate?

Essay Topic 3

Substance abuse seems to be an unnamed character in the book. How pervasive is the abuse? Why does it have such a prevalent place in the characters' lives? How does it affect the abusers? How does it affect those impacted by the abusers? Explain how an inanimate object or characteristic can be a character.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 867 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample