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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. After Will leaves, who does Jack hire?
(a) Mat.
(b) No one.
(c) Sim.
(d) A man who remains unnamed by the author.

2. At the very start of the novel, to what is Jack listening?
(a) Mat yelling at his son.
(b) His daughter cooking.
(c) Mat calling to his cows.
(d) His wife singning.

3. What happens when Jack sees Mat in the store?
(a) Jack stops his conversation and gets up and hugs Mat.
(b) Jack joins in the conversation about farming.
(c) Jack introduces Mat to the man he is talking to.
(d) Jack does not immediately acknowledge that Mat has arrived.

4. Why does Hannah Coulter consider her family's life a work in progress?
(a) They don't have enough workers to help them keep up with the farm.
(b) She keeps having babies.
(c) They keep having setbacks.
(d) Their plans come to fruition as time and money allow.

5. What did Jack do to escape his domestic misery?
(a) Talked to his wife to try to work things out.
(b) Sold his land piece by piece to anyone who would buy it.
(c) Talked to his friends about how miserable he was.
(d) Threw himself into his work.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did Ruth feel about Jack doing all of the dirty tasks around the farm?

2. What did Jack realize after the climax of the frustration with Will?

3. When Mat goes to Lightning's house, what does he tell Lightning to do?

4. What is easy for Jack to remember?

5. As Chapter 3 begins, who does Jack think of?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Jack feel about his memories?

2. As the book opens, what does Jack remember about mules as he stands on the porch listening to Mat call the cows?

3. What happened when Jack went into the room right after Ruth gave birth to their son?

4. What happens when Jack is brought out of his memories and into the present?

5. After the dinner at the Feltner's house, what is the memory that Jack has about?

6. How does Mat feel about Lightning and Smoothbore Berlew?

7. What is Jack's relationship with Hannah Coultner like?

8. What was Jack like when he was younger?

9. When Mat finds Jack at Jasper Lathrope's store, what is the extent of the conversation Mat has with Jack?

10. What was the relationship like between Jack and Will Wells?

(see the answer keys)

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