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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. How does Merry feel about her father's apology?

2. How old is Lulu Zachariah at the beginning of the story?

3. What does Joey make Merry promise to do?

4. Why can't Lulu and Merry stay with their paternal grandmother?

5. Who is Lulu and Merry's aunt who speaks particularly unkindly about Joey?

Short Essay Questions

1. What pressures does Merry feel while living with the Cohens?

2. Why is being foster children difficult for Lulu and Merry?

3. What happens to Lulu's hopes for being adopted by the parents of a high school girl who volunteers to spend time with Lulu?

4. Who is Aunt Cilla and why does she refuse to take Lulu and Merry into her home?

5. How does Merry feel about being at the Cohens' house after she and Lulu have been there for a year?

6. What conflicting emotions does Merry have when Dr. Cohen takes her to the prison to see her father?

7. In Chapter 1, how does Joey get into the house and what do Lulu and Merry do as their parents fight?

8. Who is Grandma Zelda?

9. How does Lulu coyly work her way into Mrs. Cohen's sympathy?

10. Into whose home do Lulu and Merry move in as foster children and what directions does Lulu give Merry about how to behave and what to say?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain Meyers' use of regionalism in the book. Cite examples of at least two different instances of regionalism and explain why the author used them where she did.

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Joey. What did he look like? What were his positive personality traits? What were his dreams and fears? What was most valuable to him in his world?

Essay Topic 3

What is the greatest lesson Lulu learns from Grandma Zelda? Is it true that important lessons are also painful ones? What will Lulu always recall about Grandma Zelda and the promise she made to her?

(see the answer keys)

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