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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 is Gertie unable to work on the cherry block of wood?

2. Which of the following bothers Gertie more and more every day?

3. What kinds of food does Mrs. Anderson feed her children which would upset her husband?

4. Which of the following best describes Flint?

5. Where does Gertie want to take Cassie after she dies?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Clovis complaining about after he comes home from a very bad day at work?

2. Why does Gertie rush down to interfere with Reuben and Mr. Daly after the fight?

3. What happens during the snowball fight between Gertie's children and the Dalys' children?

4. Describe an event which shows how tempers are short during the heat wave.

5. Why does Mrs. Daly suddenly stop the argument with Gertie?

6. On what does Clovis blame that exhausts all of Gertie's savings to pay for Cassie's funeral?

7. Describe what happens when Sophronie answers the door when she is drunk.

8. What happens when Gertie is overwhelmed by the children's constant arguing?

9. When Gertie tells Clovis that her mother said that she should not buy Tipton Place, what does Clovis say which surprises Gertie?

10. Describe in detail Cassie's final moments in Gertie's arms.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay supporting the idea that Max's escape from Victor is a reflection of Gertie's dream of Tipton Place. Use specific examples from the text to support your essay.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay on how the ending of the book might have been different had Cassie not been killed by the train. Use events in the text as a guide for your writing of what might have happened.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay describing the challenges that Gertie has faced throughout the novel. Use specific examples from the text as part of your description.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 814 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample