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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the understanding between Oliver and Susan that develops during their five year correspondence?
(a) That Susan will become Oliver's wife
(b) That Oliver will be the best man at Susan's wedding to Thomas
(c) That Susan's family will finance Oliver's projects
(d) That Susan will draw Oliver's likeness for his personal stationery

2. What is a recurring plot device used by the author?
(a) Flashback
(b) Several points of view
(c) Letters from Susan to Augusta and others which move the story along and let readers know what has happened.
(d) Symbolism

3. What was Susan's overall impression of the mine workers?
(a) They did not know what they were doing
(b) They were happy and tanned
(c) They appeared to be in a cruel and harsh environment, like a prison
(d) They were ignorant and mean

4. Who is Pricey?
(a) Oliver's clerk from England
(b) Susan's horse
(c) The gardener
(d) Susan's pet name for her wagon

5. How many years after their first meeting do Susan and Oliver wait to marry?
(a) 8 years
(b) 2 years
(c) 15 years
(d) 10 years

6. Why was Thomas Hudson a frail and sickly man?
(a) He had been injured in the war.
(b) He had cancer
(c) He was a vegetarian
(d) He abused alcohol

7. What is the purpose of Rodman's discussion with Lyman concerning Oliver's time at Deadwood?
(a) It allows the author to cover the time Oliver spent in Deadwood without the usual narration or correspondence plot devices.
(b) To remind the reader that Rodman and Lyman are related
(c) To show Rodman's interest in his father's book
(d) To test Lyman's mental faculties

8. Why is everyone concerned about Larry being around Shelley?
(a) Because Shelley is allergic to Larry's cologne
(b) Because Shelley is pregnant with Lyman's child
(c) Because Larry once threatened to cut Shelley's throat.
(d) Because Larry has a bad cold

9. Who is Shelley Rasmussen?
(a) Ada's lesbian lover
(b) The gardener's wife
(c) Lyman's longtime girlfriend
(d) She is the daughter of Ada, the Housekeeper and becomes Lyman's transcriptionist

10. How does Susan's career expand at this time?
(a) Susan becomes a model
(b) Thomas asks her to be a writer as well as an illustrator.
(c) Susan begins to study engineering
(d) Susan takes in mending and washing clothes for the miners

11. Why is Al Sutton important to this story?
(a) He caused Lyman to lose his leg
(b) He is Shelley's husband
(c) He provides comic relief and helps to flesh out the character of Lyman, son of the richest family in town.
(d) He saved Lyman's life

12. Why does Lyman call himself a "man of stone"?
(a) He is mute.
(b) He is taking steroids
(c) His family name is Stone
(d) Because he is physically unable to move his head from side to side.

13. Why does the author call this period a blissful time for his grandmother?
(a) She is in a coma
(b) Her career is growing; she has intelligent conversations with their visitors, and she is pregnant.
(c) She is falling in love with the mine supervisor
(d) She is back east with Augusta

14. How does the small Ward cabin figure in Leadville society?
(a) It has no signifigance whatsoever
(b) It is located near the train station
(c) Susan's wit, conversational abilities and homemaking skills make it a welcome gathering spot for a wide variety of cultures and people.
(d) The Leadville children think it is haunted

15. Why doesn't Ollie come with Susan to Leadville?
(a) He has taken ill and needs to recover
(b) He has refused to come see his father
(c) Her parents have kidnapped him
(d) Augusta has asked to keep him

Short Answer Questions

1. Where did Oliver live while he was waiting for his house to be finished?

2. What is the dream that Susan will lose if the cement is not successful?

3. Who is Clarence King?

4. Oliver has news for Susan when he returns to Santa Cruz - what is it?

5. What is the next job offer that Oliver gets?

(see the answer keys)

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