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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 do Mother and Father let Eldon and Wayne jump into the straw pile for hours at a time?

2. Where does the family dog sleep as fall comes to an end?

3. Who does Eldon say gets the cream money and the egg money?

4. Why is the living room called the winter room?

5. What is Eldon supposed to do while Wayne jumps from the hayloft onto the horse's back?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some of the sounds Elden describes in the opening chapter?

2. Describe what happens to Cousin Betty's daughter and where she's found.

3. What does Mother say about Jerseys and Holsteins?

4. What are some of the smells Eldon describes in the opening chapter called "Tuning?"

5. Why does Uncle David believe everyone works so much harder in the summer than in the winter?

6. What are some of the "lights" Eldon describes in the opening chapter?

7. Describe Eldon's childhood illness and the effect it has had on his life.

8. Compare Uncle David's side of the room with Nels' side.

9. Describe the stove in the winter room and what Wayne says the rails are for.

10. Describe what happens when Eldon and Mother take Father's lunch to the fields.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who helps Eldon's family when it's time for haying and threshing? Describes the days when the two families come together. Why are these important?

Essay Topic 2

What are the positive aspects of each of the seasons Eldon discusses? What are the negative aspects of each of the seasons?

Essay Topic 3

What are the activities that go on in the winter room? Why are these important to each of the characters and to the family as a whole?

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This section contains 965 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample