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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 are students doing in Guthrie's class?

2. What does Ike and Bobby's mother say when the two boys check on her?

3. What does the female student say when Guthrie calls upon her?

4. Why does Ike and Bobby's mother cry when they are there?

5. Why is Mr. Beckman angry at Crowder?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Victoria tell Maggie about the baby's father?

2. What do the McPheron brothers find when they arrive home one day and what do they do about it?

3. What does Victoria do for her lunch break, who does she encounter and what is the end result?

4. What does Tom do about Ike and Bobby after seeing his wife?

5. How does Victoria's mother find out Victoria is pregnant and what is her response?

6. When does Victoria go into labor, how does she handle it and how do the McPherons handle it? What does she deliver?

7. What do Ike and Bobby do for Christmas and how do they feel about it?

8. Why do Bobby and Ike sneak out of the house one night?

9. Describe the conversation Tom Guthrie and Lloyd Crowder have about Russell Beckman's grade in American History.

10. What does Maggie tell the McPheron brothers about Victoria and what does she ask them? What is their response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

It is not clear why Maggie Jones thinks of the McPheron brothers when she is searching for a home for Victoria, but it is clear that she knows both brothers well since she speaks to them with a great deal of familiarity.

1. What would you infer about Maggie and the McPheron brothers' relationship from their conversation about Victoria? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. From what you've read of the McPheron brothers thus far do you think their home will be a good place for Victoria? Why or why not?

3. Putting yourself in the shoes of the McPheron brothers, discuss the pros and cons of taking Victoria into your home.

Essay Topic 2

Victoria matures and grows throughout the book. Ike and Bobby do also.

1. What do you think might be some of the reasons Victoria is maturing? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. Do you think Victoria's maturity shown in the book is unrealistic in the short amount of time period the book covers? Why or why not?

3. Discuss the ways that Ike and Bobby show changes in their maturity in the book.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Plainsong, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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