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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. How does Pa hold together the cabin door?

2. What do the girls have to clean out of the house before they can move into it?

3. How far away does the nearest neighbor live?

4. Why does Laura have a difficult time falling asleep the night Jack returns?

5. From where did the family with malaria come?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Pa acquire mustangs and what are the mustangs’ names?

2. Why does the family stop after traveling for a few hours?

3. What does Laura tell her Ma she wants to see relating to Indians and what does Laura’s Ma tell her?

4. What does Mr. Edwards look like and what does he tell Laura he is?

5. What does Laura tell her Pa about Jack and the Indians and what is his response?

6. How does Jack appear at the camp on the prairie?

7. Where do the Ingalls stop for supplies and where do they spend the first night on the road? What do they hear that first night?

8. How long does it take for Mr. Edwards and Pa to finish the house and why is Mr. Edwards helping them?

9. What does Pa do with Pet and Patty when they camp on the prairie?

10. What does Pa do about the homestead not having a fireplace?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

Trace and analyze the theme of self-reliance in Little House on the Prairie. Consider the following questions as you write: Examine which characters are most concerned with being independent and how they demonstrate independence? What might drive them to be self-reliant?

Trace and analyze the theme of joy in one’s life in Little House on the Prairie. How is joy found in a difficult life? How are the joys in the Ingalls lives different from those in modern America? How might finding the good in everyday help a family survive a harsh environment? Use examples from Little House on the Prairie to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Do you think most people want a happy ending in a novel? Do you think Little House on the Prairie would qualify as a novel with a happy ending? Why or why not? What do you think are three reasons to read fiction and do you think Little House on the Prairie fulfills these three reasons? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not? Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Little House on the Prairie help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Little House on the Prairie? With which characters do you identify most? Why? Use examples from Little House on the Prairie to support your answer.

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