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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 Gertie's children is involved in the fight with the Daly children which Gertie witnesses?

2. What does Clytie tell Cassie people are making fun of her?

3. With what does Mr. Daly bully Enoch?

4. Which of the following characters wins the lottery?

5. About what topic does Mr. Daly continue to argue with the residents of the complex?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Sophronie ask Gertie to watch her children after they had their tonsils out?

2. Describe an event which shows how tempers are short during the heat wave.

3. Describe the scene Gertie witnessed between the Daly and Meanwell children.

4. What is Clovis complaining about after he comes home from a very bad day at work?

5. When Gertie tells Clovis that her mother said that she should not buy Tipton Place, what does Clovis say which surprises Gertie?

6. Why doesn't Gertie continue to carve the block of cherry wood?

7. What does Reuben's note say at the end of chapter 23?

8. What happens to Clovis at work one night?

9. Why does Clovis say they cannot return to Kentucky as Gertie wishes after Cassie is killed?

10. Describe in detail Cassie's final moments in Gertie's arms.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the relationships between Gertie and her neighbors throughout the novel and how they progressed. Be sure to use specific examples from the text 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 the symbolic value of Gertie's knife transforming from that of being life affirming and life saving to that of being life destroying. Use examples from the text to support your description.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 741 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample