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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. At what time does the Nielsen's store close each day when Vivian begins working there?

2. Who is the man that drives the kids to school from the country road that Vivian walks to from the Grotes' home?

3. What does Vivian's teacher say she looks like when she returns to school with her hair short after the incident with lice at the Grotes home?

4. Where does Vivian admit that her mother went after the fire when she first arrives at Miss Larsen's room at the boarding house?

5. What is Mr. Grote's first name?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Vivian think of the school that she begins attending while staying with the Grotes in Section 3?

2. What are the benefits that both Molly and Vivian incur as a result of Vivian's stories in Section 4?

3. Why does Molly go to the library in Section 4? What does she discover through her research there?

4. What leads up to Mr. Sorenson's arrival in Section 3? Why does Mr. Sorenson come to the Byrnes' home?

5. What causes the Byrnes' financial problems in Section 3? How does this impact Vivian?

6. How are Vivian's teenage years described while living with the Nielsens in Section 4?

7. What are some of the historical aspects of Orphan Train that are presented in Section 3?

8. Where does Vivian stay while she awaits word from Mr. Sorenson in Section 4? Who oversees this establishment?

9. What causes Molly to leave her foster home in Section 4? Where does Molly intend to go after leaving?

10. What are Mr. Sorenson's impressions of Vivian's story about leaving the Grotes' home in Section 4?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of identity in Orphan Train. What symbolic objects in the story symbolize “self” or “identity” to Vivian and to Molly? How do both Vivian and Molly’s identities change in the course of the narrative? What are some examples of these changes?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss the character of Molly as the protagonist of Orphan Train. What does the exposition in the beginning of the novel reveal about Molly’s past? How has Molly been affected by living in foster care? How does Molly perceive her foster parents? What emotional defenses do you see in Molly’s character?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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