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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 used to live in the house the Larkins are moving into?

2. Where does Janey wait for the teacher and other students?

3. Who brings gifts and fruit to the Larkins' home?

4. What does the doctor promise as he leaves the Larkin house?

5. Why does Bounce come to the Larkin house one night?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Janey note about the differences in her parents and she relates to each of them?

2. Why does the Camp School come to a close?

3. What does Janey notice as she waits for the teacher and other students at the Camp School?

4. What offer does Mr. Anderson make to Mr. Larkin?

5. How does Janey know that her Mom is very sick?

6. What memory is prompted for Janey when seeing cows outside on a cold night?

7. Why does Janey offer the willow plate to Dr. Pierce as payment for Mom's care?

8. Who intrudes on Janey's contentment as she sits watching the ducks?

9. Why does Janey go to the Anderson house prior to the Larkin family's leaving the area and what does she learn from Mr. Anderson regarding her willow plate?

10. What is the purpose of Miss Peterson's visit to the Larkin house?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the greatest lesson Janey learns from her father? Is it true that important lessons are also painful ones? What will Janey always recall about her father from their experiences in California during the Great Depression?

Essay Topic 2

Explain Doris Gates' use of regionalism in the book. Cite examples of at least two different instances of regionalism and explain why the author used them where she did.

Essay Topic 3

BLUE WILLOW is a classic coming of age story. What does that classification entail? Why does this story fit into this category? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,436 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample