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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. What has Miss Gilluly given up trying to do?

2. What is Yolanda yelling to Shirley as Yolanda rushes out of the house?

3. What has Andrew be nicknamed by some of the boys that hang out at Asphalt Hill?

4. What do they call Yolanda on the bus?

5. What does Yolanda do to the biggest bully at school?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Yolanda yell to Shirley as Yolanda is running out of the house?

2. What gives Yolanda comfort in her new home?

3. How does Yolanda steer Shirley's interest away from talking about jump roping?

4. Describe Andrew's encounter with the drug pushers at Asphalt Hill.

5. What does Yolanda go to the library to research and what does she learn?

6. Why is the darker side of Asphalt Hill, and what are Andrews thoughts about that?

7. Why does Yolanda usually add a comment when she answers a question?

8. Who is impressed by Yolanda and why?

9. What is the other terrible thing that has happened recently?

10. What is one terrible thing that has happened lately?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "Yolonda's Genius".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of "Yolonda's Genius". How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of "Yolonda's Genius". How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

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 "Yolonda's Genius" 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?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation of how Yolanda is prejudice towards a white girl and thinks stereotypically when most people think of racism in the United States as being white prejudice towards blacks.

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use and meaning of five symbols you choose to analyze from "Yolonda's Genius". What do they symbolize? Is the symbolism obvious? Effective? Does the symbolism contribute to the enjoyment of reading?

3. Discuss five literary devices that occur in "Yolonda's Genius" and how they are used. Are they effective? Do they add or detract from the reading of the book? Why or why not. Some possible techniques: allusion, connotation, denouement, dialogue, flashback, figurative language, motif, metaphor, narrator, point of view, simile, mood, and puns.

(see the answer keys)

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