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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. Which of the following is the best definition for tongue-tied?

2. Which of the children could be described using the term prissy?

3. What kind of officer is in the car that stops before hitting Gertie?

4. What does Gertie carve for Cassie on the walk to her parent's house?

5. How does Gertie travel at the beginning of chapter one?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the doctor immediately realize that Amos has?

2. What happens when Gertie finds out Henley wants to give her all the money he had been saving for his own farm?

3. What does Reuben say when Gertie tells him of her hope to have their own farm?

4. What is Joe's response when Gertie asks him how long it took him to like his new life?

5. What is evident that both Clovis and Gertie share?

6. What does Reuben hope to see in Gertie as she talks to her mother about her dreams?

7. How much change does the officer give to Gertie for the ride into town?

8. What does Gertie learn as she reads the letter from Clovis?

9. What happens right before Clovis leaves for his physical?

10. Why is Clytie crying at the beginning of chapter three?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay describing how the author has used foreshadowing throughout this novel. Use specific examples from the novel to support your description.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay on how the ending of the book might have been different had Cassie not been killed by the train. Use events in the text as a guide for your writing of what might have happened.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay describing what the knives in this novel represent. Use specific examples from the text to support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

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