View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In what month and year does the narrator's story begin?
(a) January of 1967.
(b) July of 1969.
(c) January of 1961.
(d) July of 1961.

2. What does Ruth believe is the true cause of Ariel's change of heart regarding Juilliard?
(a) Ariel's fear of failure.
(b) Ariel's relationship with Karl.
(c) Ariel's fear of severe homesickness.
(d) Ariel's admiration of Emil Brandt.

3. Where do Frank and Jake run to after seeing the dead body at the train tracks?
(a) Halderson's drug store.
(b) Their house.
(c) Emil Brandt's house.
(d) Their father's church.

4. Where do Nathan and Gus finally find Travis Klement once they locate him?
(a) In the attic of his own house.
(b) At a bar in Mankato.
(c) At the fire station.
(d) In the church basement.

5. What reason does Warren Redstone cite for the 1862 attack on the white settlers by the Sioux tribe?
(a) Because the Sioux had discovered the white settlers' use of smallpox-infected blankets to kill their tribe members.
(b) Because the Sioux were starving and had been denied food promised them in a treaty.
(c) Because the Sioux realized that the white settlers wanted to own land the Sioux had occupied for centuries.
(d) Because the white settlers had attacked the Sioux first.

6. Why do Frank and Jake walk home from the jail instead of riding in their father's car?
(a) Gus throws up in their father's backseat.
(b) Their father does not tell them why they have to walk home.
(c) Jake wants to go break out Morris' headlights before returning home.
(d) Frank wants to try peeping at their next door neighbor before returning home.

7. When Father Peter tells Nathan the reasons for the townspeople's negative feelings about Ruth's role as the minister's wife, what three reasons does he give?
(a) Ruth frequently skips church, does not invite families to her home, and does not provide donuts after church services.
(b) Ruth smokes, swears, and wears short skirts to church services.
(c) Ruth smokes, drinks, and shuns the activities of the Women's Society of Christian Service.
(d) Ruth drinks, swears, and does not make weekly visits to the different families' homes.

8. What river flows through the town of New Bremen?
(a) The Snake River.
(b) The New Bremen River.
(c) The Jewel River.
(d) The Minnesota River.

9. What prompts Gus and Morris to be thrown in jail?
(a) They rob the local liquor store.
(b) They get caught gambling at a poker game.
(c) They get caught drag racing.
(d) They get into a fistfight in the bar parking lot.

10. What is the real reason for Amelia's absence from church?
(a) She has fallen ill with influenza.
(b) Her husband Travis has left her and her son Peter with visible bruises.
(c) Travis has forbade her from attending church.
(d) Her son Peter has run away.

11. Whose vehicle do the boys see parked at the quarry when they arrive there?
(a) Karl's car.
(b) Nathan's car.
(c) Morris Engdahl's car.
(d) Gus' motorcycle.

12. What advice does Gus give to Jake when Jake feels guilty for swearing in front of the church?
(a) He tells Jake to say the Lord's Prayer ten times.
(b) He tells Jake that it is good for people to be shocked out of their monotony once in a while.
(c) He tells Jake to save his regret for the important things.
(d) He tells Jake to apologize in front of the congregation at the next week's service.

13. Why does Jake want Frank to answer people's questions about the incident with Emil instead of answering himself?
(a) Because he cannot stop crying.
(b) Because he is worried he will stutter.
(c) Because he still does not feel well.
(d) Because he is so shaken by the incident that he does not know what to say.

14. When the family is leaving for Bobby Cole's funeral, where does Frank go when he tells Jake to stay at home for a minute?
(a) He goes next door in hopes of seeing Edna Sweeney doing yard work while scantily clad.
(b) He goes under the porch to pray for Bobby's soul.
(c) He goes to take one last look at the railroad tracks where Bobby had been killed.
(d) He goes to tell Ariel that her boyfriend Karl has decided not to go to the funeral.

15. Who first tells Nathan that Emil has attempted suicide?
(a) Ruth.
(b) Ariel.
(c) Gus.
(d) Jake.

Short Answer Questions

1. What reason does Frank give for thinking his father might be disappointed to find Frank and Jake reading comic books?

2. Who arrives at Emil and Lise's house moments after the firemen have left with Emil?

3. How many children do Axel and Julia Brandt have?

4. What two queries does Frank make of Karl during the ride in the Triumph?

5. What song does Ruth Drum sing at Bobby's funeral?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 889 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample