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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. When Isabel and Ruth initially arrived at Curzon's camp, who did some soldiers think that Isabel was?

2. Why did Ruth initially refuse to flee the laundry?

3. What was the nickname Curzon earned for his bravery while digging the trenches?

4. Why did the soldiers of Curzon's company think that Isabel and Ruth had been separated from Curzon?

5. How did Isabel and Ruth bury the bodies they found in the woods?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Isabel mean when she said, "We had been forced back into war for our liberty" (151)?

2. Why was Aberdeen curious about Isabel favoring the British?

3. Why did Isabel decide that she and Ruth could not travel with the women of the army?

4. Why did Isabel think digging the trench was a bad idea?

5. Why was Isabel grateful that Ruth did not say anything in the presence of Sergeant Armstrong?

6. How did Isabel's feelings towards Aberdeen change by the time she encountered him hiding in the bushes?

7. What was Curzon's manner like when he encountered Isabel and Ruth at his company's camp?

8. How did Isabel's narration during her fake kiss with Curzon indicate that she may have had romantic feelings towards him?

9. Why was Isabel cheered by Kate and Elspeth's frustration at the extra work they had to do after the storm?

10. Why were many of the men in Curzon's company from Rhode Island?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout Ashes, Isabel's relationships with all of the other major characters change. Write an essay analyzing how changes in Isabel's relationship with Ruth cause changes in her relationships with other characters, like Curzon and Aberdeen.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout this book, Isabel and other characters grapple with a difficult question: Are the Patriots fighting for freedom for all? Write a persuasive essay taking a side in this issue. Support your argument with research in addition to statements made in the book.

Essay Topic 3

Ashes is an example of historical fiction. What about Ashes makes it fit into this genre? What work did Anderson need to do in order to effectively write a historical fiction novel? You may use outside research to support your argument.

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