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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 devastating news does Sammie tell Dencey?

2. What is Sammie's demeanor after the husking day?

3. What is Sammie's demeanor when Dencey shows him the chart?

4. What new article of clothing does Stephen receive?

5. Why does the fire alarm in town sound as Sammie is ready to leave with Professor Snubshoe?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Dencey find when she takes a risk to go exploring in the attic?

2. What is advertised on the poster tacked to a tree, and why is Aunt Susanna so appalled to find Dencey reading it?

3. What location does Sammie suggest for his reading lesson with Dencey? Why does he feel ill at ease there?

4. How does Sammie's behavior change once he passes up the chance to kiss Dencey at the corn husking contest?

5. Why does Sammie want to win the corn husking contest but is also afraid that he might win it?

6. Why does Dencey feel driven to teach Sammie to read despite some of his behavior?

7. Why does the fire alarm ring in the morning, and why does Lydia hold Sammie responsible for the trouble?

8. What has happened to Lovesta after her years of punishment?

9. What does Dicky Dick tell Sammie about Injun Jill being his mother, and why does Sammie feel compelled not to stay too long?

10. What does Lovesta tell Dencey about repentance and what does Dencey plan to do regarding Sammie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the lives of Dencey and Hopestill. How are their circumstances similar? In what ways are their lives different? What draws them together to make them friends? What makes Hopestill apprehensive about some of the things that Dencey says or does?

Essay Topic 2

What is the greatest lesson Dencey learns in the book? Is it true that important lessons are also painful ones? What will Dencey always recall about her mother's admonitions? What impact did Aunt Lovesta have on Dencey's life? What would Dencey consider to be her best decision?

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study of Tom Coffyn.. What did he look like? What were his positive personality traits? What were his dreams and fears? What was most valuable to him in his world?

(see the answer keys)

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