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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. Between shifts and in her downtime, Ginny likes to ____________, preferably those from dead writers.

2. Who calls after midnight wanting to talk, which causes the other person on the line to come over to talk?

3. Where does Ginny drive in order to find out what the townsfolk are saying about Larry and the rest of the family as the pastor will not reveal anything?

4. ___________ says that just as their dreams are coming true, they are living in a nightmare as others have wrecked their dreams.

5. Ginny remembers back when she was young that she ate 27 __________ while she was sitting on the toilet.

Short Essay Questions

1. Who takes care of the funeral arrangements for Pete, since Harold and Larry are not present?

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

3. What does Marv Carlson tell Ginny and Caroline they can do before the farm sale starts?

4. What does Ty do when he's in town with Ginny at the Perkins Restaurant?

5. What does Ginny do after asking Ty for $1000 and receiving that money from him?

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

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

8. When Ginny is hiding in a dressing room, what does she overhear Larry say about her and Rose?

9. Why is Rose tempted to walk inside Chelsea, according to Rose as she speaks to Ginny?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The prospect of freedom is something that is explored at several points of this story.

Part 1: How do you think the characters are trapped in this story?

Part 2: How do you think the characters are free in this story?

Part 3: Do you think it's easier for the characters to be trapped or to be free? Why?

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

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)

This section contains 750 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample