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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. Why do Talcott and Pricie elope?

2. What does Rondal recite one time from school when C.J. visits?

3. To where does Carrie invite Lloyd to dinner?

4. What does Carrie's brother Mike not like that upsets his father?

5. Where does Dillon live?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Rondal do after working in the mines for two years and what is the response to his efforts?

2. What is the medical situation for black coal miners, how does Dr. Booker get medicine for a cholera epidemic and what does Booker show C.J. about black coal miners?

3. How does Dillon feel about what the coal companies are doing and what does he do in response to their actions?

4. What happened with Rosa and a butterfly when she was young, what reminds her of that, why does she want to leave Mario and what did Mario do to Francesco?

5. What does Carrie say she first remembers about Ben Honaker and her sister?

6. Why does Carrie learn to hunt, what does Miles' father want him to do after high school and what does he do?

7. What happens to C.J.'s grandfather, why is C.J. named what he is named? What happens to C.J.'s grandfather and then to C.J. and his grandmother?

8. What does C.J. realize about Rondal and what does he do about it? How does Rondal respond?

9. Who is unhappy about Flora's wedding, why is she, what does she tell Flora and what is Carrie's response to that to Flora?

10. From Clabe's stories to Rondal how has the family land changed and what does Clabe and his family do on Sundays?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Storming Heaven is a historical novel that tells the story of struggling West Virginia coal miners in the early twentieth century, which is a story that has often been neglected by history books. This novel gives a fictional but accurate account of how the miners stood together and how business and political interests used deadly force to preserve the oppressive conditions. Discuss the following:

1. How do the interest of business and politicians coincide in Storming Heaven? Use examples from the text to support your response.

2. Do you think there are any incidences or events in present day America in which big business and politicians seem to combine their power in ways in which it might not be in the best interest of the lower economic classes? Why or why not? Use examples to support your answer.

3. There have been a number of incidences in American history where the government has used deadly force against its citizens even as recent as the 1960's and 1970's. Do you think it is possible the government would ever use force against its citizens in the present time? Why or why not?

4. The miners, after many atrocities began to meet violence with violence. Do you think this was the wrong approach? Why or why not?

5. Do you think the miners had the moral right to use violence when it was used against them? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The triumphs of collectivism are short lived and their assurance follows the path of their deteriorating conditions of living.

1. Why and how do you think the triumphant collectivism of the miners being focused together deteriorated?

2. How do you think the focused collectivism of an organized body, such as an army, can remain stable as opposed to the miners?

3. Do you think organization and strong leadership are always necessary in order for a group to work together?

Use examples from Storming Heaven to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

The miners seem to be imprisoned by poverty.

1. Do you think then miners are truly "imprisoned" by poverty? Why or why not?

2. Discuss ways in which you think the miners could break out of the prison of poverty.

3. Why do you think it is so hard to move out of poverty either then or now? What do you think it takes to move from poverty to plenty or even great wealth?

4. Is your personality such that you think you would be one of the few who do manage to break out of poverty is you were very poor? Explain how you might differ from the miners.

(see the answer keys)

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