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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. How old is Deanna?

2. In Chapter 20, what does Nannie say that Mary Edna has?

3. What falls out of Garnett's closet that reminds him of his wife?

4. What does Lusa think she might try growing?

5. In Chapter 26, whom is the Forest Service agent looking for?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 17, what remark does Nannie make that causes Garnett to wonder if he may have been responsible for his wife's death?

2. In Chapter 30, Lusa is finally beginning to feel like what?

3. What are some of the ghost experiences in the house that Lusa relates to Crys?

4. In Chapter 24, what reason does Lusa give Jewel for using every bit of produce from her garden?

5. What does Garnett tell Nannie is the reason that he will not reach out to his son?

6. Deanna finally opens up to Eddie about her half-sister, in Chapter 16. What does she tell him?

7. What does Nannie do, in Chapter 20, that makes Garnett realize how starved he is for human touch?

8. What do Nannie and Garnett call each other, at the end of Chapter 28?

9. What does the snake, leaving the cabin, symbolize for Deanna, in Chapter 22?

10. How does Garnett embarrass himself in Chapter 28?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Deanna and Lusa are both strong women, each in her own right. Which woman do you believe to be the stronger overall? Give three examples to support this and explain why you chose one and not the other.

Essay Topic 2

Eddie Bondo is portrayed as a character that is easy to distrust. Citing examples from the book, discuss what you think his true character is. Has he been accurately portrayed? Would you consider him a good person or not? What are Deanna's expectations of him? Did this have an effect on how you viewed him?

Essay Topic 3

In "Prodigal Summer", Nannie attempts to explain the "Volterra Principle" to Garnett. Explain, in depth, what this is. What does it have to do with pesticide use? Why, according to Nannie, is it being kept quiet and by whom?

(see the answer keys)

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