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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. What does Fanny give to Vivian as a Christmas gift in 1929?

2. Who is the driver that picks Miss Larsen and Vivian up after school to take them to the boarding house?

3. What month is it when Vivian first goes to meet the Nielsens?

4. What is the name of the maid at the Nielsens' home?

5. Where does Mr. Byrne say Fanny went to live with her sister when he sees Vivian in the Nielsens' store?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Who is Molly's social worker? What conversation does Molly have with her social worker in Section 3?

4. What are Vivian's impressions of her temporary home after she has left the Grotes' home in Section 4?

5. What is significant about Molly's defense of the Native Americans in her American History class in Section 4?

6. What similarities between Vivian and Molly are illustrated in Section 3?

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

8. How is Vivian's meeting with the Nielsens described in Section 4? What agreement do the Nielsens reach regarding Vivian?

9. What assignment is Molly given in her American History class in Section 3? How does Molly intend to approach the assignment?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the narrative styles of the Prologue and the main body of the book. How does the Prologue differ from the novel itself in terms of narration? Why do you think the author chose to narrate the Prologue in this manner? How do the narrative transitions work in the main body of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the themes of education, reading, and literature in the novel. What does reading represent to Molly and to Vivian? Why? How does Vivian feel about education as a child in the early 1930s? How does Molly feel about her education?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of loss in Orphan Train. How is this theme developed through Vivian’s character and storyline? How is it developed in Molly’s story? What are examples of symbolism in the novel that depict or support this theme?

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