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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 does Victoria go after leaving her home?

2. What does Russell Beckman do to Guthrie?

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

4. What does Mrs. Stearn want before paying Ike and Bobby?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Who gathers at the McPherons' for a Memorial Day celebration and what do the brothers tell Guthrie?

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

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

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

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

7. Why do Bobby and Ike sneak out of the house one night?

8. Why does Ella ask Tom to come to her house and what happens there?

9. What does Victoria do in Denver and how does she feel about her life there?

10. Describe the conversation Tom Guthrie and Lloyd Crowder have about Russell Beckman's grade in American History.

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

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Plainsong, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

Guthrie goes upstairs and into the room where his wife, Ella, lies in bed. He asks if she wants anything, but she does not answer. Guthrie leaves the room and Ella looks around before folding her arm across her face. Guthrie leaves the house and drives away in his pickup truck.

1. Do you think Ella Guthrie is depressed? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. How do you think younger children such as Ike and Bobby might feel about their mother? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

3. If Tom Guthrie was a friend of yours what would you advise him to do? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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