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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. Which of the following does not catch on fire in the town?

2. What does the government do to help the farmers?

3. Mrs. Love, the government lady, takes applications for males to work ____________ jobs.

4. What does Billie Jo tell Louise that Billie Jo has like her mother?

5. What does the passenger take from Billie Jo when he leaves?

Short Essay Questions

1. What news does Mad Dog come to deliver to Billie Jo?

2. How does Billie Jo finally come to terms with the dust and its full impact on her life?

3. How did Billie Jo's time away change the relationship between her and her father?

4. How do the children and the itinerant family interact with each other?

5. Why is the lack of cranberry sauce such a poignant lack at Christmas dinner?

6. Billie Jo has not taken any interest in cleaning the house until she sees someone else scrubbing hardened mud. What does this prompt Billie Jo to do and why does she feel haunted by Ma in her actions?

7. Who are the unexpected tenants of the schoolhouse for a couple weeks?

8. What are the circumstances around the black cloud on the way to the funeral?

9. How does fire seem to be an ever-present threat in Billie Jo's life?

10. How does Billie Jo feel about the famous photographer who comes from Canada to take pictures of the dust bowl?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

There is much symbolism in this story such as the piano and the pond. Cite at least three examples of symbolism and support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

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

(see the answer keys)

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