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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 does Ann decide she will do after cooking breakfast?

2. What does the man notice in Burden Creek?

3. What does Loomis think the Creek water could do?

4. What does Ann do to the chickens before hiding out?

5. How does Loomis get there from where he started?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the valley special?

2. What does the man in the suit do when he finally arrives at Ann's house?

3. What does Ann decide to do to make cooking easier in the house?

4. Why does Ann bring Loomis into her home?

5. Why is Mr. Loomis at Burden Creek when Ann returns from picking greens, and how does he think the Creek can be used?

6. What happens that convinces Ann that the man knows nothing about farm life and what is her response?

7. Explain why Ann is alone in the valley.

8. What does Ann daydream about as she is picking salad greens?

9. How does Mr. Loomis seem later that evening, and what does Ann give him?

10. Why is the man there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ann rises early and collects greens to make a salad with. As she picks, Ann imagines what it would be like to marry Mr. Loomis. The idea makes Ann happy because she likes the idea of having children of her own. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think it is sane to be thinking about bringing children into a world such as the one in which Ann now lives? Why or why not?

2. In many apocalyptic novels, women are forced to bear children in order to continue the human race. Do you think it is right to force all women of childbearing age to have children regardless of their own personal desires in a situation such as Ann's?

3. Why do you think that most apocalyptic novels have as one of their premises that it is important that the human race survive? Do you agree with this premise? Explain your answer.

4. Assuming there are other areas of the world where humans are unharmed and the environment is radiation free, then does it seem less important that the few people of the United States that may have survived bear children? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Ann is wise to leave the valley? Do you think the implication is that her dream of teaching children is prophetic and that she will find others? Why or why not?

2. Would you have chosen the same route as Ann, i.e., leaving the valley. Why or why not?

3. How well do you think Ann will survive journeying out into a dangerous world?

4. Do you think Mr. Loomis redeems himself by pointing Ann in a likely direction to begin her journey? Give an in depth response.

Essay Topic 3

In chapter 11, Ann pieces together the story of Mr. Loomis and Edward and realizes that Mr. Loomis likely murdered Edward. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think you would have done when caring for Loomis and learning he had likely murdered someone?

2. Does Ann seem to take the situation seriously? Does her response seem to reflect a greater maturity than the typical 15 year old or about the same as the average 15 year old?

3. Would you have confronted Mr. Loomis as soon as he was able to interact? Would you have confronted him at all? Ann waits until she is leaving the valley--do you think that is the best course of action?

(see the answer keys)

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