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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. Where do Ike and Bobby take a classmate?

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

3. What request does Ella have about Ike and Bobby?

4. For what do they check the cattle?

5. What does Maggie notice about the McPherons' house when they enter it?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Guthrie end up at Maggie's house and what do they do?

2. What does the school board chairman tell the Beckmans and how do they respond?

3. How does Guthrie end up at Judy's house?

4. What call does Dr. Martin have that has to do with the McPherons and Victoria?

5. What kind of report does a male student make in Guthrie's class and what does he say when Guthrie asks why his report is so short? What is Gurthrie's response to the student's answer?

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

7. Where do the McPheron brothers take Victoria, what do they do, and what is her response to it?

8. What do Ike and Bobby do when they get home from school?

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

10. Who do Ike and Bobby visit, what does she say and what does she do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The only question Victoria has for the doctor is whether her baby is all right. Clearly she does want the baby. At this point it is difficult to say why Victoria wants to have the baby despite the hardships pregnancy and motherhood will cause. Perhaps because Victoria has never had a fulfilling family life she is ready to love a child of her own.

1. Discuss the reasons why Victoria might want to have her baby.

2. Do you think Victoria should keep her baby? Why or why not?

3. Discuss the pros and cons of a teenage girl having and keeping a baby.

Essay Topic 2

The source of Russell's tendency for inappropriate behavior is obvious. With parents who lash out in vulgar tirades it is little wonder that Russell sees bullying and violence as acceptable behavior.

1. In light of the above statement discuss the saying: The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Do you think Russell's behavior should be excused in view of what type of people his parents seem to be? Why or why not?

3. Discuss why Russell's behavior seems to reflect his parents. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

The boys arrive home and notice that their mother is still in her room. They wonder if she has been there all day. The boys go to the corral and herd the horses into the barn. They saddle the horses and ride west along the railroad tracks. Nine and ten year old boys Ike and Bobby seem to enjoy a great deal of independence compared to similar aged children who live in cities.

1. Discuss the differences that might be evident between raising children in a small town as opposed to a larger city. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Do you think Ike and Bobby would have the same amount of independence if their mother was different? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

3. Discuss what you can discern so far of the character and personalities of Ike and Bobby. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,338 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample