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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. Who is Vivian's date for her senior homecoming dance that gets kicked out after getting drunk and starting a scuffle?

2. What colloquialism does Vivian recall her grandmother saying after a satisfying supper?

3. Where does Mrs. Grund work as a sales clerk?

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

5. What were the names of Vivian's brothers that died in the tenement fire in 1929?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Molly's social worker? What conversation does Molly have with her social worker 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. What are the psychological impacts on Vivian from her experiences at the Grotes' home?

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

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

6. What are Vivian's first impressions of the Grotes' home in Section 3? What are the Grotes like?

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

8. Where does Vivian go after leaving the Grotes' home in Section 4? Who does she ask for help?

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

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 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 2

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 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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