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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. Who were Rey Ruiz's people?

2. What is the name of the paper Nora's family runs?

3. Why is Desma so mad at the postman?

4. Who in Lurie's group of travelers most often fights with Jolly?

5. Who owns cattle a town away from Nora and is very wealthy and influential?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Toby injure his eye?

2. What kind of creature does Lurie see for the first time when he steals away on the ship in Part II?

3. What two kinds of folk had Donovan once told Lurie the world was full of?

4. What information is contained in the Ash River Clarion's rebuttal letter to Nora's letter that greatly upsets Nora?

5. What kind of disposition does Lurie say camels would not suit?

6. What serious crime does Lurie commit in Part One that gets Marshal John Berger searching for him?

7. Who is the voice Nora often hears and has silent conversations with?

8. What do Emmett and Nora do when some of their neighbors move away, including the Flores family?

9. What does Donovan say when Lurie asks his ghost why he left him behind?

10. What does Donovan do to Lurie immediately after the wanted poster appears?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the section titled Evening, what finally seems to make Nora realize that the voice she has heard and attributed to Evelyn's spirit for years is not truly that of Evelyn's spirit? What does Nora finally come to believe the voice is? Write an essay explaining your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing how Obreht explores the theme of sacrifice throughout the novel, focusing mainly on the Lark family and citing specific references to the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing the significance and symbolism of nicknames and assumed names throughout the novel, especially in the cases of Jolly and Lurie.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 632 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample