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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. Ruth does not have many memories of her father, but she can recall one afternoon when she helped a _______ deliver its baby how her father patted her on the head and told her she was a good farmer.

2. Mrs. Foote's husband dies from what?

3. In __________ grade, Ruth was instructed to write a letter to someone, so she chose Aunt Sid.

4. What does Ruth discover about herself?

5. One of May's brothers was deaf and moved to a deaf school when he was _________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Ruth have to pay special attention in school?

2. What happened when May met Elmer Grey?

3. What is one memory Ruth has of her father?

4. Describe Ruth's first meeting with Aunt Sid.

5. What does Ruth remember about a mistake she made cooking one night? Why is she afraid to tell Aunt Sid this story?

6. How did May come to spend a great deal of time with Willard Jenson?

7. What are two stories Ruth tells to show how unpredictable her mother is?

8. Describe Honey Creek.

9. What does Ruth do after high school?

10. What takes place between Ruth and Ruby?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

May has lived a difficult life.

Part 1) Describe her life. How has she changed throughout her life? What led to these changes?

Part 2) How does May allow her past troubles to affect the present and the future? How does her past influence Ruth and Matt's lives?

Part 3) How might your own past influence your present and future? Is this good or bad? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Ruth and Ruby meet on the lake.

Part 1) Describe this first meeting. What is learned about Ruby at this meeting? How does his past influence who he is at this point?

Part 2) How does this relationship progress? How is their demise foreshadowed? Why do they not see this?

Part 3) How different might Ruth's life have been if she had married Randall? Use the text to support your response.

Essay Topic 3

Tensions build in the Grey-Dahl household.

Part 1) How do tensions build at various times in the story? Why do they build? How does this tension affect the various characters?

Part 2) Is this tension worse at the end of the story? Why or why not? Could this tension have been relieved at any point? If so, how? If not, why not?

Part 3) How does tension help to move the plot along? How does it create action in this story?

(see the answer keys)

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