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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 does Julian order Wesley to do?

2. With whom does David's family spend the winter?

3. What does David seem confident about concerning Clarence's knowledge?

4. Why is David inside his home when Frank arrives on Thursday?

5. What does David think when he is at Nash's Grocery Store?

Short Essay Questions

1. What reason does Wesley give for withdrawing from the Sheriff's election?

2. How does Julian respond to the situation about Frank?

3. What does David believe about the aftermath of Frank's suicide?

4. What happens to Wesley?

5. Why does Wesley not tell David what is going on with Frank right away?

6. What does Enid hear that causes her to start crying?

7. What was the overriding reason for the move to North Dakota?

8. What had Wesley said to Marie's mother about the funeral and what was Marie's mother's response?

9. When does David say the family decides to leaves Montana?

10. What does Gail want Wesley to find out concerning Marie's funeral and why does she want to know this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two.

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Montana 1948 is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

David will come to believe that his uncle Frank is the entire problem. He needs to realize that his grandfather's attitude about Frank is a problem, too.

1. Discuss reasons you think David believes all the problems of the family is the fault of Frank. Use examples from Montana 1948 and your own life to support your answer.

2. Discuss the reasons that much of the dysfunction in the Hayden family originates from Julian. Use examples from Montana 1948 and your own life to support your answer.

3. What are some of the ways Julian could have changed the way he raised Frank that might have kept his son from being the adult he becomes? Use examples from Montana 1948 and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Foreshadowing is used in almost all works of fiction.

1. What is foreshadowing? How many incidences of foreshadowing are in Montana 1948? How does foreshadowing contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadowing in Montana 1948 including why you believe it is foreshadowing. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from Montana 1948 and your own live to support your opinion.

(see the answer keys)

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