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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. Who did Edith send Roy to see in Chapter 4?

2. When Roy and Ada first arrived at their land, where did Ada live?

3. In Chapter 4, what was Edith putting in the bowl into which Roy dropped something?

4. Who does the reporter say Sandy fought with on the night of the fire?

5. Which of the following is not said to have been one of Edith's responsibilities?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What complaint did Roy make about John in Chapter 3?

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

4. What did John see in the field as he and Sandy drove past the Goodnough farm in Chapter 6?

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

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

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

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

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

10. How is Roy Goodnough described in the first three chapters of the book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Discuss the setting of the novel. How does the setting of "The Tie That Binds" help to illustrate or convey the themes and motifs of the novel?

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