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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 surprises Ginny when she goes for a swim as they are throwing rocks into the water?

2. Who does Ginny first call before she goes out to see Rose, but when she arrives in Mason City as promised?

3. The court date has been set for _________ 19th, which is more than a month away at this point of the book.

4. ___________ just wants the plates that Larry ate off but nothing else that might be on the farm.

5. Ginny notices that every ___________ in Rose's house is lit when she comes over.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ty hope for good weather at the beginning of this chapter?

2. How did Ginny cover for Caroline when they were younger, Caroline being 14 and Ginny being 22?

3. What happens when Pete gets drunk in Mason City and drives over to threaten Harold?

4. What does Rose want Ginny to do for her daughters, Pammy and Linda, that night instead of taking them back with Ginny?

5. How is it shown that Ty is the better farmer of all of his neighbors and their farms?

6. Why did the bank not give Ty a loan this year for his farm and for his hog operation?

7. What does Ginny notice about 6 AM the morning after Pete's accident?

8. What is the status of Harold's eyes after his accident with the ammonia?

9. How does Ginny describe the way she is feeling after the midnight conversation with Rose?

10. Why do Ginny and Caroline go about dividing possessions in the cold as it is late November?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The multiple miscarriages of Ginny are a sad fact she shares almost without feeling at times.

Part 1: Why do you think Ginny has continued to have so many miscarriages in her life?

Part 2: What is the symbolism of Ginny not being able to carry a child in her womb?

Part 3: Do you think the Ginny would have made a good mother? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Between Rose's cancer and Ginny's infertility, it seems that maybe there is a genetic or environmental issue at work that might be harming these women.

Part 1: Do you think the farm's chemicals are what are causing the troubles for the women in this story? Why or why not?

Part 2: What does it say about these women that they don't leave, even though the environment might be making them sick?

Part 3: What does it say about Caroline that she is the 'well one' and she left the farm? Should the others have left the farm as well?

(see the answer keys)

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