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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. In her dream, were is Georgie standing?

2. What does Billy do to try and "bring Agatha around"?

3. Why does Georgie expect Agatha to reject Mr. Olmstead's proposal?

4. What does Ma give Agatha on Christmas Day?

5. Why didn't Georgie join Agatha during the arrival of the pigeons?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ma cut a scrap of cloth from the corpse's body?

2. Why does Ma make Agatha a ball gown?

3. What was unusual about the cougar attack?

4. Why does Georgie fear to join her sister outside with the migrating birds?

5. How does Grandfather Bolte express compassion towards Georgie during the funeral?

6. Why does Georgie shoot gin bottles down by the river?

7. Why does Agatha step into the migrating flock of pigeons and spin?

8. What type of "horse" does Billy loan to Georgie and how does he force himself on her journey?

9. Why does Georgie tell Mr. Olmstead about Agatha kissing Billy?

10. What is the significance of Billy's nickname for Georgie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Billy’s confession about the true nature of the kiss between him and Agatha affect his relationship with Georgie? What are the short term effects of his confession? What are the long term effects of his confession? Why does Georgie decide to help him on Miller Road? Why does she ask him to leave the store afterwards?

Essay Topic 2

Mrs. Garrow arrives in Placid to visit her daughter’s grave and gives Ma a wad of counterfeit dollars to pay for a new tombstone for Darlene. Describe the moral and ethical dilemma Ma faces in using illegal currency to purchase the new tombstone. What risks does she face? Why do you think she purchases the tombstone?

Essay Topic 3

Describe how each family member reacts to Agatha’s letter. What immediate impact does it have on each character’s life? What might the long term impact of that character’s life? What might have caused Georgie to react with such vehement anger? What enabled her to forgive Agatha? Theorize how Mr. Olmstead might react upon hearing that Agatha is alive.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,068 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample