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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. What does Grandpa Deal tell Abbie in Chapter 6?

2. What does Will insist on naming his son, who is born in 1872?

3. How does Abbie feel about Grandpa Deal?

4. What ruins Abbie's happiness in her new home in Chapter 10?

5. What is Abbie's sister telling stories about in Chapter 1?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Abbie feel about her in-laws?

2. How does the Deals' fifth crop turn out?

3. What does Abbie decide to do for her children in Chapter 14?

4. What kind of house does Will build for his family?

5. What does Abbie discover near the families' camp in Nebraska?

6. What does Abbie tell Will after their first child is born?

7. What does the government begin to offer in Chapter 15?

8. How have the fortunes of the Mackenzie family changed over time?

9. What is Abbie sure to be on hand to see unpacked in Chapter 2?

10. Who hears Abbie sing in the woods? What does this person promise her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the setting of the novel. In what way is the setting an important aspect of this story? How might Abbie's life have been different if she had not lived in the Mid-West during pioneering days?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and interpret the protagonist of the novel, Abbie Deal. What are her defining character traits? What is most important to her and why? What important events take place during her life?

Essay Topic 3

Describe Abbie's children and grandchildren. What are their defining characteristics? What similarities do they share with Abbie?

(see the answer keys)

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