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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. Why does Martin begin crying?

2. What does Ben explain?

3. What does Louis want to do after high school?

4. What does Jason Meechum call Ben several times?

5. What surprises Martin?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who are a couple men the police are looking into?

2. How does Ben realize Petra is alive, and what does Ben decide to do?

3. Describe Calli's dream.

4. What do Louis' thoughts reveal about his relationship with Christine?

5. What does Louis see in the trees and why doesn't he immediately investigate?

6. What is Calli's perspective of running for help and arriving to see Louis and her mom?

7. What is Louis told about Charles Wilson?

8. What happens when Martin sees Ben by Petra?

9. What happens when Ben finds Griff, Calli and Petra?

10. What time does Ben think about when he was nine.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Weight of Silence belongs to the young adult novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the young adult novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young adult novel and a historical novel mystery?

Essay Topic 2

1. What is foreshadow? How many incidences of foreshadow are in The Weight of Silence? How does foreshadow contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadow in The Weight of Silence including why you believe it is foreshadow. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from The Weight of Silence and your own live to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an important part of what makes The Weight of Silence interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Calli. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Antonia. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Griff. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

4. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Louis. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,343 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample