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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. Why do Ike and Bobby leave the place where they took their classmate?

2. What does Raymond give each of the boys?

3. What does Bobby tell Mrs. Stearns about their mother?

4. Why does Tom Guthrie have to see Lloyd Crowder?

5. Where do Ike and Bobby take a classmate?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Guthrie goes to speak to Russell about what he did to Ike and Bobby?

2. What do the boys tell Guthrie when he picks them up at the McPherons' and what do they ask him?

3. What happens at the barbershop when Ike and Bobby go there to collect their newspaper money?

4. What does the young man ask his girlfriend, Sharlene, to do and what is the end result?

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

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

7. What happens with the last cow that needs done and what do the brothers decide to do with her?

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

9. What happens when Ike and Bobby visit the house where their mother now lives?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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