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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. Consider the following sentence from Section 4: "As the years have passed, [Vivian's] losses have piled on one another like layers of shale." What literary device is used in this sentence?

2. The Penobscot Indians are a tribe belonging to what confederacy?

3. Where is the Bar Harbor Library located that Molly goes to in order to research Vivian's past?

4. What does Mrs. Grote do all the time when Vivian arrives at the Grotes' home?

5. How old does Mr. Grote tell Vivian he is in Section 3?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Who adopts Vivian after she leaves the Byrnes' home in Section 3? What are the motivations of this couple?

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

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

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

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

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

8. What are the psychological impacts on Vivian from her experiences at the Grotes' home?

9. Why do the Nielsens ask Vivian to change her name in Section 4? How does Vivian respond?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Vivian Daly in Orphan Train. What function do you think Vivian plays in the story? Is Vivian a protagonist, antagonist, or catalyst? What effect does Vivian have on Molly? What are the admirable qualities of Vivian’s character? How does Vivian’s character differ in the contemporary timeline (as a 91-year-old-woman) from her depiction as a child in 1929?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the similarities and differences between the novel Jane Eyre and Orphan Train. How are the characters in these two stories similar? What themes do the stories relate? Why do you think that Christina Baker Kline chose to use Jane Eyre as the novel that Molly has stolen from the library? What does this tell you about Molly?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the settings of Vivian’s home in Ireland and New York City in 1929. What is the name of the village where Vivian was born? How is this setting described? How does this setting differ from Ellis Island and New York City?

(see the answer keys)

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