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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. If Ebbett had lived long enough, how would he have felt about Ruth?

2. What does Ruth say to her mother when she sees her at the end of Chapter 5?

3. How are the men on the islands described?

4. How do the locals feel about the Ellises?

5. What does Simon hire Webster to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are the men on the islands described?

2. Describe Ruth's childhood as described in Chapter 1.

3. What do Ruth, Cal and Toby talk about while on the New Hope in Chapter 5?

4. How do Stan and Mary meet? What do they think of one another when they first meet?

5. Describe the scenery along Ellis Road.

6. Why is Ruth sent to Delaware? How does she feel about this move?

7. What happens in Chapter 4 when Ruth tells Stan and Angus about the money Lanford gave her?

8. How do mother and daughter greet one another in Chapter 5?

9. Describe the funeral in Chapter 1.

10. What does Ruth think of Angus?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Ruth's dreams and why she desires them. What is the connection between Ruth's dreams and ambitions and the setting of the novel? What obstacles might have prevented Ruth from achieving her dreams?

Essay Topic 2

Describe Mary's back story before Ruth's birth. How did she become involved with the Ellis'? What is her role in that family? How does she meet Stan? Why doesn't she return to Fort Haven after the birth of Ricky?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the struggles faced by Ruth throughout the novel. How does she deal with these obstacles and how does she overcome them? What causes these problems for her?

(see the answer keys)

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