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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 is Mrs. Stearn's family?

2. What does Raymond give each of the boys?

3. Who repeatedly slaps Victoria?

4. Where do Ike and Bobby go to help herd?

5. Where does Victoria go after leaving her home?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Dr. Martin do after he examines Victoria and what does she ask him?

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

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

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

6. How does Victoria feel on the way to the McPherons' house and what happens when she and Maggie arrive there?

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

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

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

10. What does Victoria do when Dwayne comes home drunk at three in the morning? What does he do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Regeneration help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Plainsong? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in Plainsongto discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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