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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. Thinking that runners like __________, Ginny decides to wait in her tomato garden for Jess to come by again.

2. What are Pammy and Linda peering at as they begin to walk toward the house in the tableau of hope that Ginny envisions?

3. Rose announces she has already fed Larry and that he was ________ because they allowed it.

4. It was easier to raise Caroline, Ginny admits, because she was an ____________ child.

5. For years, Ty has wanted to double the farm's _________ operation, even though Larry did not agree with him.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ginny currently do for three households each and every day when she is 36?

2. Describe the way that Marv Carlson, the banker, eats when he arrives at Larry's house the morning after the pig roast.

3. What happens when Jess arrives at Ginny's with frozen meat for her to store for him and for Harold?

4. What is Larry's response to the questions of Ginny and Ty after he is released from the hospital?

5. How does Ginny describe the dimensions of her flat world as an 8-year-old in 1951?

6. What happened to the Ericson farm, according to Ginny's memory of the time it was purchased?

7. What happened when the trucks and the tractors broke during the past when Larry and Harold were around?

8. What is on the papers which Ken LaSalle gives to Ginny when she is served?

9. After the storm and the incident in the storm, what does Ginny decide she needs to do for her father?

10. What did Ginny and Rose create inside of their mother's closet when they were little?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The idea of being a parent is one that is debated in this novel, with different versions of parenting being represented.

Part 1: How do you think motherhood is portrayed in this novel? Positively? Negatively?

Part 2: How do you think fatherhood is portrayed in this novel? Positively? Negatively?

Part 3: What do you think the author's feelings about parenting are?

Essay Topic 2

One might say that parts of the story were simply out of the hands of the characters. For example, the role of disease and illness seem to be out of the hands of the characters, though the actions of Larry seem to be within his control.

Part 1: Do you think that that characters had more opportunities to change their lives? Why or why not?

Part 2: Why didn't some of the characters try to change their lives and redirect their experiences?

Part 3: Do you think the book supports the idea of nature being in control of our lives or of free will being in charge? Why did you choose the answer you did?

Essay Topic 3

The affairs with Jess show the reality of the sisters and their dissatisfaction with their lives and situations.

Part 1: Why do you think Ginny decided to sleep with Jess?

Part 2: Why do you think Rose decided to sleep with Jess?

Part 3: Why do you think Jess decided to sleep with both sisters?

(see the answer keys)

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