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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 can't Patty start her car?

2. What are clinging to Earl's beard and mustache?

3. Why does Jamie kick Nin's drawer?

4. What does Patty dust herself down like when she gets up after ducking behind the snowcone stand?

5. What does Jamie do when he sees his mother's car disappear out of sight?

Short Essay Questions

1. What problems does Patty have at the beginning of Chapter 9?

2. How does Jamie react when his mother disappears down the road?

3. Why is Mrs. Desrochers so concerned about Jamie?

4. What does Jamie fantasize in Chapter 7?

5. How does Mrs. Desrochers respond to Patty's defensiveness?

6. Describe the argument between Patty and Jamie in this section?

7. Why does Jamie step into the hallway in this chapter?

8. How does Earl teach Jamie how to ice skate?

9. Why does Van leave?

10. How do Jamie and Patty spend the week?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Mrs. Desrochers help Patty and her children? What does the way she deals with them say about her abilities as a teacher?

Essay Topic 2

What are Jamie's feelings for Van? Why does he feel sympathy for Van at the end of the book? What does his sympathy suggest about Van and his relationship with Patty?

Essay Topic 3

Aside from the main character, examine the way the author uses the other characters in the book. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

(see the answer keys)

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