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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 type of seeds did the merchants sell?

2. What profession did some of the ousted female healers choose?

3. Why did the author publish Martha's diary?

4. How many nights had Ephraim spent in the woods as a surveyor?

5. When did midwives stop attending autopsies?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Martha's complete diary find its way to being published in its entirety?

2. What was Martha's only real problem during Ephraim's incarceration?

3. How did Ephraim get embroiled in events that would lead to the Malta War of 1809?

4. What happened in the aftermath of the Purrinton murders?

5. Explain the state of Martha's health in 1796?

6. With what content did Martha prefer to fill her diary instead of news of politics and conflict?

7. Name the two reasons Martha's diary is so special.

8. What shocking crime did Captain Purrinton commit?

9. Who is the first of Martha's relatives to realize the significance of her diary pages?

10. Martha's garden was always important to her but why was it especially critical during 1809?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Martha Ballard's life story beginning with her birth in Massachusetts in 1735. Who was her husband? How many children did she have? What were her primary professions?

Essay Topic 2

What positions other than midwife did Martha hold in the community? What was her reputation? Did people respect her? Revere her? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Toward the end of her life, it is clear Martha begrudged the fact that she was old and had to give up her independence and her work. In what ways did Martha persevere to do the best she could for her family and her community until she died?

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