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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 waterway were the children used to playing on?

2. Grandpa Nye's mother's family can trace its roots to what country?

3. Who were the members of the L F B M Club?

4. What was Vanessa's great-great-grandfather's profession?

5. Where did Vanessa's great-great-grandparents eventually settle?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the setting of the "And Here Tecumseh Fell" chapter?

2. Why are Vanessa and Lisa uncomfortable in their parents' home?

3. Explain the L F B M Club.

4. What topic of conversation does Vanessa's father bring up which surprises her in light of the sad news about Grandpa Nye?

5. How does Vanessa's father struggle to manage his grief about Grandpa Nye's imminent death?

6. What aspect of history has always intrigued Grandpa Nye?

7. Who befriended Grandpa Nye while he was in college?

8. What is especially poignant about the family's leaving Grandpa Nye's hospital room?

9. How does Vanessa's view on life change with the onset of summer vacation?

10. What does Vanessa keep by her bedside?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses more than one instance of irony in the book. Cite at least two other examples you can identify in the play and note why they are examples of irony.

Essay Topic 2

There are several events of foreshadowing in the book. Define foreshadowing. Cite at least two situations in the story that serve as foreshadowing.

Essay Topic 3

Ancestry and heritage take on an almost human persona in this story. What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

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This section contains 873 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample