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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. How does Ma care for the trees?

2. What does President Roosevelt encourage people to plant in the dust bowl?

3. What happens when Billie Jo throws the pail outside?

4. In what country are the Dionne Quintuplets born?

5. What event is held at the courthouse?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe some of the grim scenarios that Billie Jo sees.

2. How does Ma react when a brief rain comes in the Summer of 1934?

3. What is the argument about a pond between Daddy and Ma?

4. How does Mad Dog say he got his nickname? What is his real name?

5. What are Ma's injuries and how does Daddy take care of her?

6. What is the irony of Ma not liking Billie Jo to play the piano?

7. Who is Livie?

8. How are Billie Jo's injuries treated?

9. In addition to her love for music, what other force drives Billie Jo to have beautiful experiences?

10. What is the importance of the apple trees to Ma and Billie Jo?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Billie Jo becomes an outcast due to her hands being deformed after the fire. How does she manage through this stigma? How does she wish people would treat her? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

What important life lesson does Billie Jo learn from the man on the train? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Write a character sketch of Daddy. Be sure to include both physical and emotional characteristics as well as personal motivations, fears, etc.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 906 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample