View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What do Ike and Bobby wonder when they get home?

2. What does Victoria's mother tell Victoria?

3. What does Ralph Black not want the boys to do?

4. Why does Victoria run out of the classroom?

5. Why do Ike and Bobby go to the train station?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Maggie tell Victoria she has to do to make certain she is pregnant, what is the result and what does Maggie then tell Victoria she will do? What does Victoria ask Maggie?

2. Where do Ike and Bobby ride their horse and why do they go there?

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

4. What happens between Victoria and Maggie's father?

5. What does Russell and a friend do to Ike and Bobby?

6. What do the McPheron brothers do after Victoria's examination is finished?

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

8. How does Victoria end up going to Denver?

9. What happens when Victoria returns to the McPherons' house?

10. What do Ike and Bobby do after Russell leaves them?

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

Oftentimes, a book is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Plainsong is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think Plainsong is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,345 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample