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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. What place does Mr. Larkin finish in in the contest?

2. What does the Larkin family have all they want of on the farm?

3. How will Janey gauge the teacher's personality?

4. Mr. Romero tells Mr. Larkin that a man has some _________________ trees that need to be trimmed.

5. What disease does the doctor say Mrs. Larkin has?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Janey decide to go since Dad is not going to work and won't be taking her to school this day?

2. Why does Dad enter into a fight with Bounce that could land Dad in jail?

3. What disease is Mom diagnosed as having?

4. What is Janey's reasoning for gauging the teacher by how the teacher reacts to the horned toad?

5. Why does the Camp School come to a close?

6. How does Janey know that her Mom is very sick?

7. Describe the events of the Larkins moving into the place recently vacated by Bounce?

8. What offer does Mr. Anderson make to Mr. Larkin?

9. What is Dad's description of bravery and why does Janey now have a better appreciation for the bravery exhibited by her parents?

10. What does the eucalyptus tree job mean for the Larkin family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

BLUE WILLOW is a classic example of historical fiction. What does that classification entail? Why does this book fit into this category?

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Janey. What did she look like? What were her positive personality traits? What were her dreams and fears? What was most valuable to her in her world?

Essay Topic 3

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,331 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample