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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 did Marie remember about Carl when he was a boy?

2. What is Oscar's wife so ashamed of?

3. How often do Alexandra and Marie usually see each other?

4. What do the furnishings in Alexandra's large farmhouse look like?

5. What major new service is available in the area in Part 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. What question does Alexandra ask Ivar about her hogs, and what is his response?

2. What does Alexandra say to her mother to calm her fears about losing her farm?

3. What is the common view of Emil in Part 2, and why is this so surprising?

4. What do Alexandra's brothers say about Carl as they leave the family dinner?

5. What does Alexandra say about her family when her farm hands criticize them for disagreeing with her?

6. What does Carl say to Alexandra about Marie during their visit?

7. Why do Lou and Oscar take credit for the success of the farm?

8. What does Alexandra tell Carl is the key to her success with the land?

9. How is Lou described by the author?

10. What does Carl witness between Marie and Emil one morning while walking alone?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lou and Oscar are two very similar people, and yet they have some very notable and important differences. Using the text to cite some support and, write a compare/contrast essay about these two characters.

Essay Topic 2

This book takes place in a few different settings. Describe some of these settings and how they affected the course of the plot. Why might Willa Cather have chosen these particular places for this plot to take place?

Essay Topic 3

The characters in this novel all had their own goals and motivations. Select four characters and write their main motivation throughout the book and how this goal affected the characters around them.

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