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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 did John spend his nights doing after Edith refused his proposal?

2. After Roy's accident, what did John send Roy's son to do?

3. Why did Lyman ask John for a ride to town in Chapter 6?

4. What was the name of the local tavern?

5. How long was Ada in labor with her first child?

Short Essay Questions

1. What accident occurred one day while the Goodnoughs and John were bringing in the harvest?

2. What did the doctor do to help Roy, and what was the lasting effect of his accident?

3. How did Ada and Roy come to live in Colorado?

4. On what condition did Roy allow John and Edith to date?

5. Why did Edith decide not to marry John?

6. How did Roy try to manipulate his daughter into refusing John's proposal?

7. How did Lyman stay in touch with Edith after leaving her behind on the farm?

8. Where did Lyman go after leaving Holt?

9. What does Sandy say was unique about how Lyman ran the Goodnoughs' farm?

10. Why does Sandy think Roy chose the plot of land that he did?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the motif of duty. Who does the protagonist feel dutiful towards, and why? Did Lyman feel dutiful towards anyone? How does Edith's sense of duty affect her path in life?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Haruf's use of the flashback. Is it an effective way to learn about the past before the novel's start?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the motif of loyalty in the novel "The Tie That Binds." What examples of loyalty can be found throughout the novel? Who is the protagonist loyal towards? How does she show this loyalty?

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