Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

1. What makes Aven unique? 

A) She is a great actress

B) She was born without arms

C) She wears special glasses

D) She was born without legs

2. How do Aven’s parents help Aven manage her disability? 

A) They do everything for her.

B) They enroll her in a special class in school.

C) They teach her to do things on her own.

D) They take her to special counselors.

3. To what state do Aven and her parents move? 

A) Arizona

B) Arkansas

C) Kansas

D) Utah

4. What is the name of the theme park where Aven’s dad and mom start their new jobs?

A) Tombstone Park

B) Gold Hill

C) The Wild West

D) Stagecoach Pass

5. Who is Joe Cavanaugh?

A) Aven’s art teacher

B) the owner of the park

C) Aven’s grandfather

D) the park’s accountant

6. What does Aven notice is missing from the park’s museum?

A) a picture of the Cavanaugh family

B) a stuffed tarantula

C) an expensive western saddle

D) a map of the park

7. What is Aven’s favorite sport? (short answer)

8. Why does Aven almost always wear ballet flats?

A) They do not show the dust as much as other shoes.

B) She can feel the ground better through flats.

C) They are easiest to get on and off her feet.

D) She does not like shoes with heels.

9. Why does Aven choose not to eat in the cafeteria on her first day of school?

A) She is embarrassed to have people stare at her while she eats.

B) She does not want to eat the cafeteria food.

C) She prefers eating alone.

D) She would rather eat outside and enjoy the sunny weather.

10. What does Aven’s mom give her to help her connect to her old friends?

A) a new phone

B) a writing desk and fancy paper

C) a blog

D) a plane ticket to go visit them

11. How does Aven feel after the two girls ask what happened to her arms? 

A) angry, because they were rude to her

B) happy, because she enjoyed talking with them

C) excited, because they asked her to join the soccer team

D) hurt, because they were not interested in her as a person

12. When Aven looks at the Saguaro, why does she think she is “an entirely insignificant event in the life of this cactus”?

A) The cactus is an endangered plant, and its life is very important.

B) The cactus has lived through decades of important historical events and will probably outlive her.

C) The saguaro is part of the history of the Old West.

D) The saguaro represents the Arizona desert.

13. What is special about Connor?

A) Like Aven, he was born without arms.

B) He is in all honors-level classes.

C) He has Tourette syndrome.

D) He is a skilled impersonator.

14. What do Aven and Connor have in common?

A) Other kids treat them differently.

B) They both love graphic novels.

C) People go out of their way to include them both in activities.

D) They both enjoy mint chip ice cream.

15. What is Connor’s mom’s occupation?

A) high school counselor

B) ER nurse

C) medical school student

D) doctor

16. What instrument does Aven play? (short answer)

17. Why did Connor’s dad leave Connor and his mom?

A) He had a mid-life crisis.

B) He needed to leave for a better job opportunity.

C) He wanted to give Connor and his mom time to heal.

D) He could not handle living with Connor’s disorder.

18. What do Connor and Aven find in the old shed at Stagecoach Pass?

A) a sketchbook filled with drawings of horses, tarantulas, and a necklace

B) a notebook filled with musical compositions for guitar

C) a scrapbook full of old photographs of cowboys and gold miners

D) a diary written by Joe Cavanaugh showing a treasure map

19. In what way does Aven wish she were like Stargirl, the character in Jerry Spinelli’s novel?

A) She wishes she had never moved to Arizona.

B) She wishes her nickname were Stargirl, instead of Sheebs.

C) She wishes she did not care what anyone else thinks about her.

D) She wishes she fit in at school like Stargirl did.

20. Who is Josephine?

A) Aven’s aunt in Kansas

B) a lady who has worked different jobs at Stagecoach Pass for decades

C) the helpful girl in Aven’s science class

D) the elderly camel that gives trail rides

21. Why does Zion not want to eat in the cafeteria?

A) He is a health nut and likes to eat outside.

B) He is embarrassed that his mom packs his lunches.

C) He would rather read in the library at lunchtime.

D) He is overweight and does not like kids watching him eat.

22. What mystery does Connor agree to help Aven solve?

A) who stole two steaks from the steakhouse

B) the mysterious disappearance of the Cavanaughs

C) the mystery of the missing video game controller

D) why Henry will not give Aven mint chip ice cream

23. How old was Aven when she was adopted?

A) two years old

B) five years old

C) two months old

D) five months old

24. How did Aven get her nickname, “Sheebs”?

A) She wrote a play about the Queen of Sheba in fifth grade.

B) She dressed as the Queen of Sheba for Halloween.

C) Her foster family did everything for her like she was the Queen of Sheba.

D) Sheebs stands for “she be strong” like the Queen of Sheba.

25. What event do Connor and Aven attend together? 

A) a packed midnight-movie opening

B) a classical guitar concert

C) a Tourette syndrome support group

D) a class about being your best self

26. What odd phrase does Dexter often shout out?

A) chicken nipple

B) jelly ripple

C) chicken gizzards

D) jellybeans

27. How does Aven feel about being at the Tourette event?

A) uncomfortable and anxious

B) comfortable and relaxed

C) bored and tired

D) embarrassed and shy

28. Aven is reading all the school library books about what subject?

A) gold mining

B) the saguaro cactus

C) turquoise

D) tarantulas

29. What does Aven find on the hillside at Stagecoach Pass?

A) the map from Joe Cavanaugh’s diary

B) the marker showing how old the Saguaro cactus is

C) the necklace pictured in the sketchbook

D) the old saddle from the museum

30. Why does Aven think the Lion would be a good character for Zion to play in the school production of The Wizard of Oz?

A) Zion is strong and brave.

B) Zion has a loud, roaring laugh.

C) Zion needs to find his courage.

D) Zion is large and powerful.

31. What does Connor call the people who attend the Tourette support group?

A) freaks

B) heroes

C) losers

D) warriors

32. What does Aven understand about Connor after she meets Connor’s mom?

A) Connor thinks his mother should help him more.

B) Connor wishes he lived with his dad.

C) Connor wants to go back to his old school.

D) Connor blames himself for his family’s problems.

33. What does Aven think about Connor’s goal to go out in public more?

A) She thinks he will not work on his goal.

B) She believes he should work on being more friendly to Dexter instead.

C) She hopes Connor will talk to his mom about his goal.

D) She knows Connor will achieve his goal.

34. What does Henry call Aven when he sees her helping to make Christmas dinner in the steakhouse kitchen?

A) Aven Green

B) Aven Cavanaugh

C) Josephine Green

D) Joe Cavanaugh

35. What does Aven suggest that her parents do to get more business at Stagecoach Pass? 

A) sell raffle tickets

B) invite a travelling circus to perform

C) hold a gourmet bake sale

D) have an art festival

36. What does Connor agree to do if Aven plays her guitar at the festival?

A) He will come to the festival.

B) He will buy her 10 packs of gummy bears.

C) He will help clean up the shed.

D) He will eat in the cafeteria.

37. What do Aven and her dad search for together in the evenings? (short answer)

38. What does Zion find when the three friends search the shed?

A) a map to an old gold mine

B) an old photograph of Aven with arms

C) a box of letters

D) papers showing the Cavanaugh family tree

39. Why is Connor upset when he arrives at Aven’s house?

A) Dexter made fun of him.

B) He lost the money he was going to use to buy Aven gummy bears.

C) People in the store filmed his tics.

D) He does not like Aven’s room.

40. How does Connor feel about himself?

A) He is glad his parents support and help him with his disability.

B) He thinks that someday he will have the same confidence that Aven has.

C) He is proud that he works to overcome the challenges he faces every day.

D) He thinks he is a freak and will never be able to do anything with his life.

41. After playing the guitar for Connor, why does Aven suddenly wish she had arms?

A) so that she could play the song with fewer mistakes for him

B) so that she could comfort Connor

C) so that she could eat the gummy bears more easily

D) so that they could play a duet together

42. Why does Aven get angry at Connor?

A) He tries to make her feel incapable, the way he feels.

B) He says her guitar playing was not very good.

C) He will not go to the next Tourette support group meeting with her.

D) He wants her to eat in the cafeteria with him and Zion and she would rather not.

43. Why does Aven not want to play her guitar at the festival?

A) She wants to help Josephine in the steakhouse instead.

B) She knows she does not play the guitar that well.

C) She will be busy making sure the crowds do not scare Spaghetti.

D) She thinks people will stare at her like a circus freak.

44. What does Aven’s dad mean when he says, “No one lights a lamp and hides it under a basket. They put it on a table so it can shine for all to see” (213)?

A) Aven needs to finish her lava lamp science project before the deadline.

B) Aven should have confidence, be herself, and show off her talents.

C) Aven must work on her communication skills with peers.

D) Aven could improve her flexibility if she worked more on lifting and raising objects.

45. What does Aven find carved on the inside of the old wagon?

A) a heart with the words “Joe + Jessica”

B) an arrow pointing towards the back of the old shed

C) a heart with the words “Aven was here”

D) a big “X”

46. Why does Aven decide to try out for the soccer team?

A) Her dad will make her feel guilty if she does not try out.

B) She wants to show Connor that she does not need him as a friend.

C) She does not want to become someone who gives up easily when things are hard.

D) Zion dares her to try out.

47. Why does Aven feel like dancing after talking to Jessica?

A) Aven’s new ballet flats make her want to dance.

B) Jessica makes Aven hopeful about the upcoming spring dance.

C) Aven feels accepted for who she is.

D) Aven sees Connor in the stands and wants to show off.

48. What does Aven find in the desk? 

A) the missing photograph of the Cavanaugh family

B) the last will and testament of Joe Cavanaugh

C) photographs of tarantulas

D) a list of buried treasure locations

49. How is Josephine related to Aven?

A) Josephine is Aven’s adopted aunt.

B) Josephine is Aven’s good friend.

C) Josephine is Aven’s stepsister.

D) Josephine is Aven’s birth grandmother.

50. What happened to Aven’s birth mother?

A) She moved to Seattle, Washington.

B) She died in a horse-riding accident.

C) She left Stagecoach Pass and never came back.

D) She married a cowboy and has a new family in Phoenix.

51. What other name does Josephine go by?

A) Josie Green

B) Joe Goldsmith

C) Feeny Cavanaugh

D) Joe Cavanaugh

52. Why did Josephine give Aven up for adoption?

A) She did not feel able to care for Aven’s special needs.

B) She knew that Aven’s mom could not care for her.

C) She did not think Stagecoach Pass was a safe place to raise a child.

D) She wanted a chance to find Aven’s birth father for her.

53. What does Connor want Aven to teach him?

A) how to be more confident

B) how to play guitar

C) how to ride a horse

D) how to start a blog

54. What does Aven discover about herself by the end of the novel?

A) that she can stand up for herself when people bully her

B) that her life is insignificant compared to the saguaro

C) that she wants to become an astronaut

D) that she is confident in herself and knows she is unique

55. Aven blogs that the most essential supplies that armlesss teenagers need are:

A) lots of comfortable shoes

B) good friends

C) their own blogs

D) supportive grandparents

56. What do Aven, Connor, and Zion finally have the courage to do together at the end of the novel?

A) eat together in the cafeteria

B) go to the movies

C) play video games in the big arcade across from the school

D) go out to dinner in a fancy restaurant