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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. What is the main food item in Lusa's culture?

2. What name have Lusa's sisters-in-law given to the homemade liquor that their husbands make?

3. What are Eddie & Deanna searching for in Chapter 13?

4. Why does Lusa use buckets to catch rainwater?

5. What is Garnett doing in Chapter 14 that is making him sore?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do you think Herb and Big Rickie handle the situation about putting in Lusa's crop?

2. What are Garnett's views of the Amish?

3. What is Garnett's basic persona, when we first get to know him?

4. What is Eddie like, at the beginning of the book and how does Deanna react to him?

5. What is a "windfall" in the forest?

6. What does Nannie need to do to keep her organic farming certification valid?

7. Do you think Eddie respects Deanna?

8. What does Garnett warn Lusa about, when she wants to place an ad for goats?

9. Was Nannie right in moving her "No Spray Zone" sign onto the bank bordering Garnett's property?

10. What is Lusa's plan for her goats?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the beginning of "Prodigal Summer", we see much conflict and very little empathy between the characters. However, as the story progresses, we start to see a shift in this. Cite three examples from the book that demonstrate how the characters are learning to empathize with each other. Address how this empathy is beginning to lessen conflict.

Essay Topic 2

Although we never meet the character, Garnett Sheldon Walker IV, we learn about him from conversations in the novel. Describe the character, based on conversations of Garnett (his father) and Jewel. What was his upbringing like? How did his parents treat him? What did he do to warrant having to leave town and to be disowned by his father? How did he treat Jewel and the children? What are their opinions of him?

Essay Topic 3

During Deanna's stay on the mountain, she has become a dedicated, hard-working ranger, with little interest in the outside world. When Eddie Bondo arrives, everything changes. Cite three examples from the book that illustrate changes for Deanna, after his arrival. Be sure to include professional and personal changes. Are these changes solely due to Eddie? Are they positive or negative?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 744 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample