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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 news do Hattie and Leafie bring back to the Ren family?

2. For what does Hattie pray?

3. Why does Traft help Hattie into the house?

4. Why does Hattie go through Chester's trunk again?

5. Where does Leafie invite Hattie?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has Hattie been doing at night to fight the heat?

2. What are Hattie and Perilee working on as Perilee waits to deliver her baby, and what does Perilee promise?

3. Why does Traft say about the fire in Hattie's barn when he comes by to see her after the July 4th picnic?

4. What does Hattie's next installment describe?

5. How does Elmer Junior intervene for his father and what is the result?

6. What do Rooster Jim and Hattie say about how the war is costing them?

7. What happens to Elmer Ren while Hattie and Leafie are visiting?

8. How does Traft explain the fact that he has not yet been drafted into the military?

9. What happens to Hattie that Traft helps her?

10. How does Hattie have to go into more debt because of the savings stamp drive?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Kirby Larson.

2. What in Kirby Larson's background may have helped her in writing "Hattie Big Sky"? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of "Hattie Big Sky", identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement.) Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in "Hattie Big Sky". (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot.) Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Understanding the setting, both the place and time, helps the reader to enjoy a novel. Discuss the following:

1. Research Montana of the early 20th century, and then write an informative essay about the social and geographical aspects.

2. Research the treatment of German nationals and immigrants in the United States during WWI, and then write an informative essay about what you learn. Compare the information to what you read in "Hattie Big Sky".

3. Compare/contrast the life of someone in the early 20th century with that of a young person today.

(see the answer keys)

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