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

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is Guthrie attending a party?

2. What kind of job does Judy have at the school?

3. What does Mrs. Beckman do when she begins to speak at the school board meeting?

4. What is wrong with Ike's horse?

5. What do the McPheron brothers do after Victoria talks to them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

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

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 389 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample