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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 joins the Wards in the irrigation project as an employee?

2. When does the Ward family get to move into their new house?

3. How did Lyman first hear of Susan and Oliver's time in Mexico?

4. What does Lyman say is wisdom

5. How does Susan occupy her time while Oliver and the others are inspecting the mine?

Short Essay Questions

1. Susan and Oliver separate as he takes the surveying job and she moves the family to Victoria BC - how does part of the Wards' life compare with Lyman's own personal history?

2. Are they able to resolve their differences and move on?

3. Why doesn't Susan leave with Frank?

4. Oliver and Susan are in serious disagreement when he comes to New York - why?

5. How do Lyman's deepest feelings come out in his dream?

6. How does Shelley's reading of the manifesto bring the reader back to the present day of Lyman's 1970?

7. What happens between Frank and Susan on the evening of July 4th?

8. How does this chapter highlight the differences in approach to life by Oliver and Susan?

9. How does this chapter highlight the dangers of the West, and how does the author foreshadow the end of happy times for the Wards?

10. Why does Frank commit suicide?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What do you think really happened to Agnes and Frank?

Essay Topic 2

How is Rodman different from his father? Does Lyman admire his son or resent him? Does Rodman respect his father or see him as a chore and an obligation?

Essay Topic 3

What are Susan and Oliver's basic complaints about each other? How do they try to resolve it, if at all? Give examples of her anger towards him, and his towards her.

(see the answer keys)

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