Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

What do the tests you’ve taken really reveal about you? Which kinds of tests are the most reliable and helpful? What harm can come from testing?

Teaching Suggestion: Students have encountered tests in varying formats, and they might have formed their own strong opinions about them. Perhaps they have heard of debates around testing. Offering a chance to share prior knowledge can increase engagement about the central focus of this novel: the testing of teenagers. You might begin with a brainstorming activity for students to list types of tests; then, after journaling or discussing their opinions, reading the two texts here might provide students with additional background. After investigating these or similar resources, students might pair up and share their thoughts about the short answer questions with one another and then share with others.

• This Pro/Con article from Encyclopedia Britannica addresses the argument surrounding standardized tests.
• This NPR article explores the decision to return to standardized testing in the middle of the pandemic.

Short Activity

What makes a good leader? As a group, list and rank the top five qualities of a good leader.