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 does Emma do for a job?

2. What does Mrs Mercer ask Emma about Sutton's car?

3. Why has Laurel been angry with Sutton?

4. Where had Sutton found a necklace?

5. Who asks Emma out?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Emma discover when her "kidnapper" releases her?

2. What does Clarice accuse someone of and who gets blamed?

3. How does Emma end up at Sutton's house?

4. What happened to Sutton over the summer?

5. What happens when Emma and Nisha are handing out tennis outfits?

6. Why was Laurel angry with Sutton/Emma and how does Laurel indicate she's over the anger?

7. Who does Emma meet outside and what does Sutton vaguely recall about the young man?

8. Why does Emma suddenly believe Dr. Mercer knows she is not Sutton?

9. What was Becky like when Emma lived with her?

10. What does the note say that was left on the windshield of Sutton's car?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Emma's childhood was lived with her erratic mother, Becky. Becky had often been fun-loving, shouting answers to the puzzles on "Wheel of Fortune," and other times spending hours crying on the couch. Sometimes Becky took Emma shopping, buying her "two of everything." When Emma questioned the reason for two pairs of the same kind of shoe, her mother would say it was in case one got dirty.

1. Discuss, in depth, how you think such inconsistent behavior by a mother would affect a child? Use examples from your own life and the book to support your answer.

2. Discuss your ideas about guilt and its affect on people and relate these ideas to the fact of Becky buying two of everything. Use examples from your own life and the book to support your answer.

3. Do you think, given Becky's problems, Emma was better off in foster care? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and the book to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in The Lying Game. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Shepard chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Shepard chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Shepard's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Shepard use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 3

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think The Lying Game is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,191 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample