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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. What position had Knieval played in football?

2. Of what fabric is Winnie’s suit at Gary’s second wedding reception?

3. How deep had the Red River topsoil gone?

4. What mortgage company claims to have had Crystal’s signature?

5. Who had been Kismet’s maid of honor?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is lambsquarters considered the Prince of Greens?

2. What do Hugo and Kismet do on the night of her wedding?

3. What does Gary’s father describe as his “farmer car” (207)?

4. Why does Eric’s speech at Gary’s second wedding reception cause unease?

5. What, for Kismet, is the signal that her youth is ended?

6. How does Charley defuse the situation with Eric at Gary’s second wedding reception?

7. Why are Gary’s groomsmen strained as his second wedding reception begins?

8. How do Gary and his father relate to one another?

9. What was the first job Crystal had in sugar production?

10. What is Kismet’s favorite thing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

To what extent does the novel stake out a political position? What position is it? What in the novel shows that position, and how does it do so?

Essay Topic 2

Consider the back-matter of the novel. What functions does it serve? What effects does it have for the reader? How are those functions served and effects achieved?

Essay Topic 3

What attitude towards intoxicants does the novel display? How does it make that attitude clear?

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This section contains 459 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample