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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. Who is the eldest Mackenzie daughter married to?

2. Who has passed away in Chapter 1?

3. How many rooms does the first house Will builds have?

4. What do the Lutz's open in Chapter 12?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Abbie's mother give her before Abbie's wedding?

3. What happens to the Deals' sixth crop in Nebraska?

4. Who helps Abbie when she goes into labor in Chapter 10?

5. In Chapter 2, what catastrophe nearly befalls the Mackenzie family on their journey?

6. What kind of person does Abbie aspire to be?

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

8. What does Abbie think of Christine Reinmueller? Why does Abbie feel she should hide her feelings about Christine?

9. What advice does Abbie receive in Chapter 6?

10. In Chapter 3, what does Abbie find in the forest, and what does she do there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the struggles faced by the protagonist throughout the novel. How does she deal with these obstacles and how does she overcome them? What causes these problems for her?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the character Will Deal. Who is Will Deal and what are his defining character traits? How does he influence the life of the protagonist, Abbie Deal? Is he a good husband and father? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the historical context of the novel. What major events were taking place during the time period in which this novel is set? How do these real events affect the characters?

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