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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 does Tree characterize the man on the stoop?

2. What is Miss Pricherd there to do?

3. What does Miss Pricherd do after opening the door?

4. For how long at a time will Tree and her brother be left along?

5. What does Tree see when she returns to the room?

Short Essay Questions

1. What makes the baby happy?

2. How is Brother Rush's death described?

3. How does the narrator describe Brother Rush's driving?

4. How do Tree and Dab wake up on Saturday morning?

5. Where is Tree transported to?

6. How does Tree know anything about Brother Rush?

7. What does Tree know about the people she sees in this new place?

8. What is Tree and Dab's relationship with their mother like?

9. What happens that wakes Tree up in the middle of the night?

10. What does Dab see when he comes into the little room?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does Tree get in return for the loss of her brother? Is she compensated, or does she simply lose him?

Essay Topic 2

What does Dab's illness seem to be, and how important is it that we know exactly what it is? Considering how his health affects the rest of the story, does it matter what it is, exactly?

Essay Topic 3

Many stories of people living in poor circumstances are centered on the possibility that one day they'll live better lives, especially when children are involved, since everyone wants to think that children raised in poverty will be better taken care of in the future. What role does this storyline play in "Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush"? What hope do we have for Tree's future, and how does the story encourage us to believe that her future will be better than the present?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 709 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample