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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Other than the wood on the land, what other sources did the Nearings use for wood?
(a) The Neighbors forest.
(b) The old barn.
(c) Driftwood that would come in with the tides.
(d) Ship wood.

2. What are enlarged "cold frames?"
(a) Greenhouses.
(b) Cellars.
(c) Wood sheds.
(d) Freezers,

3. How many blueberry plants did the Nearings plant their first spring in Maine?
(a) 5.
(b) 228.
(c) 1088.
(d) 562.

4. What caused a cellar to be too warm for the Nearings?
(a) A cellar not built far enough underground.
(b) A source of heat in the cellar.
(c) A wet cellar.
(d) The heat of the summer.

5. How many hills of corn did the Nearings usually plant?
(a) 1 to 4 hills.
(b) 50 to 60 hills.
(c) 5 to 10 hills.
(d) 80 to 100 hills.

6. Who did all the stonework on the house in Maine?
(a) Scott.
(b) Helen.
(c) Visitors.
(d) Richard.

7. What, according to the Nearings, made a parsnip tasty?
(a) Syrup.
(b) Freezing would convert their starch into sugar.
(c) A little sea salt.
(d) Honey.

8. How should greenhouses be connected to the existing building?
(a) Far away from the house.
(b) To the north side.
(c) To the south or west side.
(d) Above the house on a hillside.

9. What did the Nearings find about growing pole beans and sweet peas?
(a) They did not like growing tall plants.
(b) They plants did not have a long growing season.
(c) They found they were using longer and higher poles and trellises.
(d) The greenhouse did not work for tall plants.

10. What was Hancock County, Maine known for?
(a) As one of Maine's "blueberry counties."
(b) As the "apple orchard" county.
(c) As the "seaside getaway" county
(d) As the "ski resort" county.

11. How did the Nearings obtain a freezer?
(a) They bought one.
(b) They inherited one.
(c) The were given one.
(d) They traded for one.

12. How much did the Nearings use a mowing machine?
(a) For 2 weeks in the year.
(b) For 2 months out of the year.
(c) About 6 or 8 hours a year.
(d) For 3 months during the summer.

13. How much of the Maine farm was a woodlot?
(a) Only a few square feet.
(b) One-fifth.
(c) About four-fifths.
(d) About 85 percent.

14. Within 5 weeks, how hot would the compost pile get?
(a) 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
(b) 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
(c) 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
(d) 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

15. What became the norm at every newcomer's house in the valley in Vermont after the war?
(a) Liquored parties.
(b) Sewing circles.
(c) Piano evenings.
(d) Political discussions.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did the Nearings want a pond?

2. How could a competent wood worker determine where a tree would fall?

3. What was the subsoil of the pond area?

4. What did the Nearings think was the downfall of most homesteaders?

5. What is a dowsing rod used to find?

(see the answer keys)

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