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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 disease is spreading through the country in 1918?

2. As the girls play together on July 3, 1936, what suspect does Ruthanne suggest might be the Rattler?

3. Who was the traitor who told Burton and Devlin about the miracle elixir?

4. What sound startles Uncle Finn, causing him to stumble?

5. What does Gideon say about the letters Abilene gives him?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Abilene know how to understand a telegram?

2. What does the man from the government who comes to Shady's bar do while he's there?

3. What does Ned hope the people in the town are doing, in his letter home?

4. What does Ned write in his letter about being wounded?

5. Where in the classroom do the girls find Stucky's writing?

6. What does Jinx do when he sees the two sheriffs who are in town?

7. What are the obstacles to the townspeople buying the property that Devlin wants?

8. What happens to Burton after the land auction?

9. Why is Miss Sadie's son not allowed to return to her country with her?

10. On July 15, 1918, what does Abilene go to the cemetery to look for?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jinx uses trickery and deception to help himself and the town. Discuss trickery and deception in the novel.

1) How do characters like Devlin, Jinx, and Abilene use trickery and deception for their own means? What makes some uses of trickery positive in the novel, while other uses are negative?

2) How does the town use trickery and deception? Why are these means necessary to counter Devlin? Are these means justified?

3) What is the author's perspective on trickery and deception?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the law and its role in the novel.

1) How does the law affect the people in the town of Manifest? Do the laws do the job they are supposed to for the society?

2) How does the sheriff in Manifest represent the law? Does he do the job he is supposed to do for the society?

3) How does the sheriff who comes looking for Jinx and his uncle represent the law? Does he do the job he is supposed to do for the society?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss death in the novel.

1) How does death affect Jinx? How does he deal with Ned's death, the death of the stranger who threatens him and his uncle, and the death of the townspeople from influenza?

2) How does the near-deadly illness that Abilene goes through affect her and her father? How does Miss Sadie's approaching death affect Abilene and Miss Sadie?

3) How does death from war and illness affect the town as a whole?

(see the answer keys)

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