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

2. What question does Len ask Wesley for which Wesley doesn’t know the answer?

3. Who is Dale Paris?

4. When was the decision to move made?

5. What does David say his mother could not do in Montana?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What happens to Wesley?

3. What does Wesley tell David to do if there is any trouble?

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

5. Why does David go down to the basement, and what does he observe?

6. What does Frank ask Wesley about before they go to the basement?

7. What does Wesley do after coming out of the basement and talking to Frank?

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

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

10. Why does David's family not attend Marie's funeral?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes Montana 1948 interesting.

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze David. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Wesley. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Frank. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

4. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Gail. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

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

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the book more interesting.

1. Research the life of Larry Watson, the book's author.

2. What events in Watson's background may have helped him in writing Montana 1948? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

4. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of Watson's agenda. What textual evidence supports your opinion?

5. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface? Why or why not?

6. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author? Explain your answer with examples.

(see the answer keys)

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