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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. According to Molly's American History teacher, what percentage of English settlers came to America as indentured servants in the seventeenth century?

2. Who does Molly argue with in her English class about the novel Jane Eyre in Section 2?

3. How old does Vivian say she is in the Prologue of the novel?

4. How did Molly's father die?

5. Where does Molly live with her foster parents in the novel?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the structure of the novel contribute to the theme of the past's influence on the present?

2. How would you describe the narrative style of Orphan Train? Who narrates the story? Are there transitions in the narrative style?

3. What happens when the orphan train stops in Minneapolis, Minnesota, according to Vivian's narrative in Section 2? Who is adopted at this stop?

4. What function does Vivian's character play in the story? How is Vivian's character introduced in the beginning of the novel?

5. Describe the process of adoption from the orphan trains. What stands out the most to you about the depictions of these transactions in the novel?

6. What is indicated by Molly's response when Vivian asks about Molly's mother in Section 2?

7. How would you describe Vivian's objectives as she and Molly begin working in the attic in Section 2?

8. How is the theme of identity illustrated through Vivian's narratives of the past in Section 2?

9. What is Molly's function in the narrative? How has Molly's past influenced her character in the beginning of the story?

10. How would you describe Vivian's relationships with her fellow workers at the clothing manufacturing company owned by the Byrnes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine and discuss the correlations between Anne of Green Gables and Orphan Train. How are the protagonists of these two novels similar? How do they differ? What are the settings like of each novel? How do they compare? Why do you think Christina Baker Kline chose to allude to Anne of Green Gables throughout Orphan Train?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the impact of the Stock Market Crash of 1929 on American economy. How were small towns, such as Albans, Minnesota, impacted in comparison with cities like New York? How fast did the Great Depression hit? How are these impacts presented in the storyline of Orphan Train?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Vivian’s impressions of Albans, Minnesota, and the home of the Byrnes. How far is Albans from Minneapolis? How populous is this town? How large is the home that the Byrnes live in? Where is Vivian forced to sleep in the home?

(see the answer keys)

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