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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. In what color ink is Bec's note written?

2. What does Riley do immediately upon returning home from the first visit to Bec's house?

3. One side of Bec's room is painted yellow, while the other half is painted what color?

4. Approximately how many students does Riley say attend Park Hills High School?

5. How does Riley acquire their vintage turntable?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does it make Riley feel when the blog attracts more than 500 followers?

2. When the girl contemplating suicide contacts Riley, what piece of Riley's advice does she take that leads to negative consequences?

3. What is the significance of the author's allusions to The Catcher in the Rye and Bridge to Terabithia when listing Riley's favorite books?

4. What action does Riley describe as being "like a suicide ritual" (64)?

5. What does Riley do when overcome by self-pity while eating alone on the ramp?

6. What is demonstrated about Solo's character when he tells Riley that "High school sucks for everyone" (95)?

7. What does Doctor Ann say about the act of "wondering if it's okay to be who you are" (110) and how do her comments relate to the novel's title?

8. How does Riley feel about the lack of uniforms at the public high school?

9. What clothing does Riley choose for the first day of public high school, and what is Riley hoping to accomplish with this choice?

10. What is symbolic about Riley's fleeting feeling of wanting to carve a word into the AP English desk?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explicate the theme of isolation within the novel, particularly in relation to the novel's protagonist. What is the author's message regarding isolation and how do you know?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the author's choice to withhold from the reader the biological gender of the protagonist within the novel Symptoms of Being Human.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's use of humor alongside humanist messages within the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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