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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What reason does Frank give for the Fourth of July being one of his favorite holidays?
(a) He likes the fireworks.
(b) He gets to spend time alone with his sister Ariel.
(c) He gets to take the day off from his work at his grandfather's house.
(d) He likes the pies his mother makes.

2. Which of their father's three church services is Frank's and Jake's favorite?
(a) The service in Minneapolis.
(b) The service in Fosburg.
(c) The service in New Bremen.
(d) The service in Cadbury.

3. Why are Frank and Jake forced to squeeze in next to Karl when he takes them for a ride in his Triumph sports car?
(a) Because there are no seat belts in the back seat.
(b) Because the back seats have been removed to make room for a speaker system.
(c) Because the back seat is full of theater props.
(d) Because the Triumph has no back seat.

4. What is the real reason for Amelia's absence from church?
(a) She has fallen ill with influenza.
(b) Her husband Travis has left her and her son Peter with visible bruises.
(c) Travis has forbade her from attending church.
(d) Her son Peter has run away.

5. Who finally convinces Lise to leave Emil's side at the hospital so Emil can be alone and get some much-needed rest?
(a) Ruth.
(b) Frank.
(c) Jake.
(d) Nathan.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Warren Redstone asks Frank what kind of name Drum is, what is Frank's reply?

2. What word does Ruth instruct the family to use when talking about Skipper, the dead man the boys had found on the tracks?

3. What topic is at the center of the large argument between Ariel and Ruth on the day of Ruth's chorale performance?

4. What war experience does Travis Klement have?

5. What does Ruth believe is the true cause of Ariel's change of heart regarding Juilliard?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the character of Julia Brandt a foil to the character of Ruth Drum?

2. What is revealed about the difference between Frank's and Jake's characters in the moment when they are invited by Gus and Officer Doyle to set off fireworks?

3. Why is Frank so surprised when Officer Doyle asks him his opinion about this year's Minnesota Twins team and asks about his own experiences with baseball?

4. What is significant about Nathan's query to the boys about whether Gus had been winning at poker?

5. Where do Frank and Jake go just before Bobby Cole's funeral, and how does Jake's suit sleeve get ripped?

6. How does Gus' monologue about killing a man relate to the novel's title?

7. What are the purposes of the Drum family's visit to Emil and Lise Brandt's house?

8. What is ironic about Lise's reaction to Frank's grabbing of her shoulder when they succeed in moving the huge rock in her garden?

9. How does Officer Doyle's search of Warren Redstone's lean-to sway the reader's opinion of Warren Redstone's character?

10. How does Nathan react to Father Peter's communication with him about the townspeople's problems with Ruth?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,620 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample