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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 was the name of the local tavern?

2. What was Ada's dying wish?

3. Who does Sandy say gave the reporter information for his story?

4. Why did Edith say John wouldn't sunburn?

5. What brand of automobile did Lyman favor?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does the reporter ask Sandy, which prompts Sandy to kick him off his land?

3. What does Sandy say about the article that the Denver Post publishes?

4. Who approaches Sandy Roscoe at the beginning of the book, and why?

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

6. What happened to Ada in 1914, and how did Roy seem to feel about it?

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

8. How did Ada and Hannah become friends?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author of the novel "The Tie That Binds." What other works is Haruf known for? How do his other novels compare to "The Tie That Binds" in term of tone and style?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the protagonist of the novel. What is a protagonist? Who is the protagonist of "The Tie That Binds"? What are her defining character traits?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the motif of understanding in the novel "The Tie That Binds." What are some examples of understanding in the novel? Why is understanding so important in regards to the themes of the novel?

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This section contains 777 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample