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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Lyman's fear?
(a) Ed will accidentally hurt himself
(b) That his son will place him into an institution and take away his freedom.
(c) Shelley will leave with Larry
(d) That Ada will fall down the stairs while carrying him

2. What was Susan's overall impression of the mine workers?
(a) They were ignorant and mean
(b) They appeared to be in a cruel and harsh environment, like a prison
(c) They did not know what they were doing
(d) They were happy and tanned

3. Who is Clarence King?
(a) Frank's father
(b) Director of the Geological Survey and a writer
(c) Oliver's boss
(d) Susan's employer

4. What advice does Mrs. Elliott give to Susan?
(a) Allow Oliver to return to engineering work rather than concentrate on marketing cement?
(b) Get rid of Marian the nanny
(c) Become a boarding house manager
(d) Leave the baby with her when they move to Bolivia

5. Why does Oliver quit the New Almaden mine?
(a) He was turned down for a promotion
(b) He realizes he cannot do the job satisfactorily
(c) Because he is ordered to tear down a fired man's house, and he refuses to do so.
(d) He has found another job

6. What is the purpose of Rodman's discussion with Lyman concerning Oliver's time at Deadwood?
(a) It allows the author to cover the time Oliver spent in Deadwood without the usual narration or correspondence plot devices.
(b) To show Rodman's interest in his father's book
(c) To remind the reader that Rodman and Lyman are related
(d) To test Lyman's mental faculties

7. The road to Leadville from the train station is long and arduous. What are just a few of the things that happened on the voyage?
(a) They run out of food, meet Indians, and sleep in a tent
(b) They got frostbite, robbed, and lost
(c) The Wards were almost driven off the mountain by a stage, one of the horses pulling their wagon died, and their reservation at the hotel was cancelled.
(d) They get injured, lose their wagon, and stay with friends

8. How does Susan's career expand at this time?
(a) Susan takes in mending and washing clothes for the miners
(b) Susan becomes a model
(c) Susan begins to study engineering
(d) Thomas asks her to be a writer as well as an illustrator.

9. How does Susan view Lizzie?
(a) A noisy, bothersome helpmate
(b) A thief
(c) Stong, patient, resilient mother who has accepted her conditions well.
(d) A competitor for Oliver's attention

10. This chapter highlights several of Oliver's traits - what are some of them?
(a) Ignorance and selfishness
(b) Snobbery and high handed behavior
(c) Compassion for those less fortunate, decency,misplaced loyalty, principals, lack of good business judgement, more of a dreamer
(d) Greed and avarice

11. Who makes an unexpected appearance in Grass Valley?
(a) Shelley's husband Larry
(b) Ada's ex-husband
(c) Mark Twain
(d) Susan Ward

12. Oliver is offered a mining job in another country - which one?
(a) Bolivia
(b) Spain
(c) Australia
(d) China

13. Who is Frank Sargeant?
(a) Oliver's assistant in Leadville and becomes a longtime family friend
(b) Oliver's boss
(c) Ollie's childhood friend
(d) Susan's editor

14. What odd presents did Oliver send from Leadville to Susan and Ollie in Milton?
(a) Beaver skins and a gigantic elk head
(b) Liquor and candy
(c) Twenty-four canaries
(d) A Christmas tree and a puppy

15. What is a recurring plot device used by the author?
(a) Flashback
(b) Letters from Susan to Augusta and others which move the story along and let readers know what has happened.
(c) Several points of view
(d) Symbolism

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does the author call this period a blissful time for his grandmother?

2. How does Susan deal with her frustration?

3. Who is Marian Prouse?

4. What is the age difference between Susan and Frank

5. Lyman believes that his grandparents were

(see the answer keys)

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