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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 did Jeannie have a knack for as far as home decorating?

2. What Latin phrase is on the Kansas state flag?

3. When was Smarsh's father born?

4. What did Jeannie tell Smarsh that Betty had wanted to name her?

5. Who was the first person to notice Jeannie's pregnancy?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Smarsh address her child that has never been conceived or born as "August?"

2. In Part I, what happens with Jeannie that Betty takes to heart because she thinks it symbolizes her failures as a mother?

3. In Part II, how does Smarsh describe her great-grandfather, Aaron, drawing on others' memories?

4. What was Smarsh's relationship with her mother like when Smarsh was a young child?

5. What are Smarsh's memories of her father Nick like from childhood?

6. How does Smarsh define her family's poverty in Part I?

7. Why does Smarsh love going to church as a child?

8. What birthday does Smarsh's father have that Smarsh feels is a sort of poetic for him?

9. What kinds of health epidemics does Smarsh say rural families often face today?

10. What kind of parallel does Smarsh draw between the kittens in Part II and farming families?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 5, on page 200, Smarsh's father Nick tells her a parable about a hard-working carpenter who intentionally does a shoddy job on a house for the first time in his life, only to have his supervisor hand him the keys to the house as a reward for his years of hard work. Write an essay exploring the meaning of this story as it relates specifically to Smarsh's family's situation and outlook on work, poverty, and opportunity.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing Smarsh's exploration of the history of women's rights work and progressive activism in Kansas state politics, citing specific references to the text to help support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

What are some of the lessons Betty, Smarsh's grandmother, taught Smarsh about work and work ethic while Smarsh was growing up? Write an essay explaining your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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