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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 Janey happy that her father pays the rent for the shack?

2. Who appears at the Larkins' shack at the beginning of Chapter 4?

3. How much does Janey's father earn per hour?

4. Who is Lupe?

5. What does Janey use for a bed?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has Janey always longed to do in a permanent place?

2. What is Bounce's role on the ranch and what authority does he say he has regarding rent?

3. How does the author use foreshadowing regarding the willow plate in Chapter 4?

4. How old is Janey Larkin and what is she doing as the novel begins?

5. What exhibits do Janey and Lupe look at at the fair and why does Lupe reason that Janey wants to stay by herself in the library booth?

6. Why does Janey decide not to make any effort to see if there are any kids living in the Mexican family nearby?

7. How does Dad show that he can be content with his life the way it is?

8. What is known about Janey's mother and the woman she calls Mom?

9. Where do the Larkins go on an outing when Dad is off work?

10. What is the significance of the nickel in terms of how Mom feels for Janey's good fortune?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

BLUE WILLOW is a classic coming of age story. What does that classification entail? Why does this story fit into this category? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

What is the greatest lesson Janey learns from her mother? Is it true that important lessons are also painful ones? What will Janey always recall about her mother from their experiences in California during the Great Depression?

Essay Topic 3

Explain Doris Gates' use of regionalism in the book. Cite examples of at least two different instances of regionalism and explain why the author used them where she did.

(see the answer keys)

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