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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 do Cap and Lucy purchase at Hodgepath's?

2. What have some of the people at the nursing home gotten Lucy interested in?

3. Why could Will not send the item in #49 to the family of the dead Union soldier?

4. Who is burned in the fiery destruction of The Lilacs?

5. How long do the slaves from The Lilacs remain after the fire?

Short Essay Questions

1. What physical and emotional changes occur in Will after visiting the lake where Ned was killed?

2. How old was Willie when he became a soldier and how did the war affect him?

3. How does Lucy first meet Castalia?

4. How did Ned Smythe's mother react to news of his death?

5. Why is Lucy concerned for Will during the family's trip to view Civil War sites?

6. What was the purpose of the trip the family made in a new Model T Ford?

7. Why does Will terminate Cassie?

8. Which person does Lucy select as the topic of her paper on the Civil War, and how does she glean her information?

9. How does Ned's mother react when Will visits her to talk about Ned's death?

10. What role do soap operas play in the nursing home where Lucy lives now?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theme of the passage of time will be an important one in the novel. How does the author begin to build this theme? Give examples of the passage of time throughout the book.

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Will Marsden. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him during his lifetime?

Essay Topic 3

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of struggle. Identify at least two instances about struggle in the story and then cite examples to support your answers.

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