View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In what state was the school where someone pulled the fire alarm at the moment Anderson began her afternoon assembly?
(a) Massachusetts.
(b) New Jersey.
(c) Vermont.
(d) New York.

2. The poem "Polyhymnia" (167) focuses on which of Anderson's firsts?
(a) Her first day of high school.
(b) Her first communion.
(c) Her first day of middle school.
(d) Her first kiss.

3. Which celebrity does Anderson name as a woman who "was three months older than" (129) she is?
(a) Farrah Fawcett.
(b) Lady Diana.
(c) Brittany Murphy.
(d) Aaliyah.

4. One of Anderson's guesses regarding a particular person's choice to pull the fire alarm had to do with the culprit being what "as hell"?
(a) Blind.
(b) Guilty.
(c) Ignorant.
(d) Deaf.

5. The poem entitled "scratching my throat with a pen" (149) is about Anderson's night job in what field?
(a) Medicine.
(b) Law.
(c) Journalism.
(d) Retail.

Short Answer Questions

1. Anderson and the author bond over their love of writing about children with what?

2. The poem "shame turned inside out" makes the claim that "shame turned inside out is" (226) what emotion?

3. Anderson reports that her father again found work in what arena after a period of years?

4. On what kind of farm did Anderson live as a child?

5. Who pulled the fire alarm at the start of Anderson's second assembly in a particular high school?

Short Essay Questions

1. What instruction does Anderson give to the reader at the end of the poem entitled “forgiveness” (206) and what is her purpose for doing so?

2. What list does Anderson provide within the poem entitled “forgiveness” (206) and for what purpose does she include this list?

3. In what way does Anderson characterize the way in which her life and her stories intersect?

4. For what transgression does Anderson receive a look of scornful disgust during her tea with a new friend at Georgetown?

5. To whom does Anderson address the poem entitled “forgiveness” (206)?

6. Who is Danuta Danielsson and what is the significance of her introduction?

7. What mistakes does Anderson think that Western society is making when socializing young boys and why?

8. What quality of icebergs does Anderson liken to her move to Washington, D.C. in the poem entitled “calving iceberg” (138) and why?

9. How does the theme of class difference arise within the poem entitled “sweet-and-sour tea” (142)?

10. To what location is Anderson referring when she discusses her “last leaving” and her “predawn trip” in the poem “calving iceberg” (138)?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,070 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample