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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 color does Alice wear in court to appear vulnerable?

2. Where do the girls want to live if Alice does not get out of jail?

3. Alice likens jail to ________________________.

4. Who is one of the few adults, other than Theresa, who has spoken to Howard this summer?

5. Who is Theresa's remaining daughter?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the lunch between Theresa and Alice so awkward?

2. What are the details of Howard's sale of the farm and how much does he accept for its purchase?

3. How do Howard and the girls prepare to move out of the farmhouse?

4. What is Alice's perspective on Nellie's so-called generosity?

5. Why does Alice compare Howard to her father?

6. Describe Theresa's last night with Howard and the girls.

7. How does Theresa add comfort to the lives of Howard and the girls at the same time that the farm is dying?

8. How does the sale of the farm affect both Howard and Alice?

9. What is happening in the Goodwin's lives that starts to let them feel normal again?

10. How does Alice describe jail and why is it so difficult for her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Prejudice takes on an almost human persona in this story. What is this literary technique called? Cite three examples that support this position.

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Alice. What does she look like? What are her positive personality traits? What are some of her negative characteristics? What are her hopes and fears? What motivates her--if anything--at this point?

Essay Topic 3

Hamilton uses more than one instance of irony in the story. Cite at least two other examples you can identify in the story and note why they are examples of irony. What is the major irony in the story? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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