View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chapter 9, what direction does Alec search when he is looking for the steer he thinks Marker stole?

2. Where does Alec keep ten-pound sacks of potatoes for people to take for free?

3. When was Vera discharged from the army?

4. What month does Vera come back to Connaught with Daniel?

5. What does Alec pay his grandson to do in Chapter 7?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened when Alec lost Earl during a Dominion Day celebration?

2. What does Alec remember about Vera's absence?

3. In Chapter 8, why did Vera quit writing Earl?

4. Who cleans up for Alec and why?

5. How did Martha die?

6. When and where did Bob the housepainter propose to Vera, and how did he respond?

7. What type of marker is on Martha's grave?

8. What was Alec's first job, and how did he get it?

9. Who are Vera and Daniel's fellow passengers on the bus in Chapter 2?

10. What does Vera have Daniel collect at the end of Chapter 5?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Flashbacks are a literary device used to provide information about events that took place before the story began. How does the author use flashbacks in the novel? How does the author’s choice to use flashbacks affect the plot?

Essay Topic 2

Vera tends to get upset easily. Why does Vera tend to get upset easily? Why is Vera argumentative and difficult to get along with?

Essay Topic 3

Idioms are words that have a figurative, rather than a literal meaning. How does the author use idioms in the book? Why are the idioms sometimes difficult to understand? Why do idioms often require research to understand their meaning?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 872 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample