View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What became more common as the Wilders neared the Kansas Border?

2. How did the Wilders cross the Platte River?

3. What spooked one of the Cooley's horses in the big city in Nebraska?

4. What did Sherwin call the place where the Wilders chose to move to?

5. What format is Chapter 2 written in?

Short Essay Questions

1. What caused the Wilders to want to move from South Dakota?

2. What did the Wilders buy when near the James River, and how much did they pay?

3. What did the immigrants give the Wilders when they left, and why?

4. What was so different about Stanton?

5. What did Laura insist the children do while they swam in the James River, and why?

6. What did Laura do to prepare for her family's trip?

7. What did the wind in Yankton cause the Wilders to do with their wagon?

8. What made Laura happy about the ferry crossing?

9. What kind of pictures are included with the first chapter of this book?

10. How did Rose's parents make money before heading on their journey?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What role does the lap desk play in the story, and what does it symbolize? How is the plot altered by the presence of the lap desk?

Essay Topic 2

What happened to the $100 bill, and what did this situation reveal about each of the Wilder family members?

Essay Topic 3

The people in this narrative all had their own goals and motivations. Select 4 people and write their main motivation throughout the book and how this goal affected the people around them.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 653 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample