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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. Why is everyone concerned about Larry being around Shelley?

2. Why does the author call this period a blissful time for his grandmother?

3. What is Rodman's reason for his visit to Lyman?

4. Who makes an unexpected appearance in Grass Valley?

5. Who is Lizzie?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why was it so unusual for Susan to enter the mine at New Almaden?

2. When Augusta disapproves of Oliver, what characteristics in Susan are brought to light?

3. What characteristics are further brought out once Susan joins her husband in New Almaden?

4. Is Susan a good caretaker?

5. Why are Shelley's problems critical to the story?

6. How are the scenes in this chapter different from all the ones before and after as far as the marriage between Oliver and Susan?

7. What attracted Susan to Oliver?

8. How does the servant girl Lizzie provide an example to Susan of the western way of life?

9. Why do Lyman and Al become better friends in the present than they were as children?

10. How is Shelley's problem with her husband similar to Susan's problems with Oliver?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What role did Shelley Rasmussen play in the plot movement in this novel? How did she compare with Susan Ward in Lyman's eyes? How did the author use Shelley to explain Lyman's character?

Essay Topic 2

What do you think really happened to Agnes and Frank?

Essay Topic 3

How does the author expound on his theme of the importance of choosing the right spouse, or how the choice of a marriage partner rules our life?

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