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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. What do Ginny and Armpit's conversation about Kaira reveal?
2. What is the stipulation that Armpit puts on his telling Kaira his nickname?
3. What seems to be Kaira's disability?
4. What does Kaira not hear Armpit say?
5. What is one dilemma that Armpit faces?
Short Essay Questions
1. What does Armpit's boss say about Armpit's work and what does the boss offer to do?
2. What "game" do Kaira and Armpit play when they leave the hotel restaurant and what does Kaira disclose to Armpit?
3. Describe the phone conversation between X-Ray and Armpit.
4. What happens when Kaira is getting ready for her show and El Genius comes in her room?
5. What happens when Armpit witnesses an interrogation of X-Ray?
6. What happens when Armpit gets to the hotel to visit Kaira?
7. What happens to make Kaira throw coffee in Armpit's face and leave?
8. What happens in the chaotic aftermath of the attack?
9. What does Armpit realize about a song he hears Kaira sing?
10. What happens when El Genius encounters Armpit in the hotel?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:
1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Louis Sachar.
2. What in Sachar's background may have helped him in writing Small Steps? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?
3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.
Essay Topic 2
Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:
1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?
2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Small Steps and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Small Steps is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.
3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?
Essay Topic 3
Over the course of Small Steps, Armpit grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. Small Steps might be considered a slice of Armpit's larger story of his "coming of age." It might be said that Small Steps is a "bildungsroman" of Theodore Johnson. Discuss the following:
1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.
2. Trace and analyze the character of Armpit as he changes from a more immature, gullible boy to a wiser, young man. What are the significant events that change Armpit?
3. After thoroughly analyzing Armpit's growth throughout Small Steps, do you think Small Steps could be considered Armpit's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?
4. Are there any other characters in Small Steps who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?
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This section contains 1,259 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
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