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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 Keith take with him the next time he runs away?

2. Who rings the emergency bell after the fire starts?

3. At what age are children in the neighborhood allowed to begin target practice?

4. What denomination of minister is Lauren's father?

5. How old is Lauren on her birthday?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is there sometimes problems with the relationship between Rev. Olamina and Jay Garfield?

2. What is the story of the parable of the importunate widow?

3. What does Natividad teach Emery?

4. What is the difference between people in Olivar and people in company towns of the past?

5. Why do Aura Moss and Michael Talcott leave their classes?

6. Why is it safer to be dirty?

7. Why does Lauren say that the bubonic plague in medieval Europe represents positive change?

8. What does Bankole say is the cause of all the human bones on the highway?

9. What do water peddlers do?

10. What does Cory accuse her husband of after Keith runs away?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although Lauren is very young, she seems much older and more mature than even many of the adults around her. Explain some of the ways in which she seems older than her years, based on examples from the text. Do you think that this believable? What do you think causes Lauren to be so mature?

Essay Topic 2

Explain what environmental changes occur in America at the time of the story. How does this affect the social fabric? What effects does it have on Lauren and the other characters? What environmental considerations do the travelers take into account when planning the community at Acorn?

Essay Topic 3

Lauren has a dream in the first chapter about flying and facing a major obstacle. Describe this dream, and then explain its symbolism in the context of the novel. What themes does this dream foreshadow?

(see the answer keys)

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