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. Who does Tom Guthrie bring with him to the McPheron's place?

2. What do the boys ask about the McPheron brothers?

3. With whom does Maggie Jones live?

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

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Crowder tell Russell Beckman's parents as to the reason they have been called to the office and what does Mrs. Beckman say? What does Russell say?

2. 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?

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

4. What do the McPheron brothers do after dinner? How does Victoria's first night at their house go?

5. What do the McPheron brothers give Ike and Bobby and what do the boys ask their father about the brothers?

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

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

8. What does Guthrie tell Russell to do when Russell lies to Guthrie and what is the result of Guthrie's request?

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

10. What does Maggie do about Guthrie going to Judy's house and what is his 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

Plainsong belongs to the Post Modern genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the Post Modern genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a Mainstream novel and a Post Modern novel?

Essay Topic 3

Victoria has a poor relationship with her mother. Ike and Bobby seem to have a good relationship with their father. The three are different ages.

1. What constitutes a good relationship between a parent and child? What about a bad one?

2. Do you think the relationship between a parent and child is different at different ages, for example, Victoria's age compared to Ike or Bobby's age? Why or why not? Use examples from the book and your life to support your answer.

3. Does Russell have a good or bad relationship with his father? Why? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,353 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample