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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. How many children do the Stanleys have?

2. What is the last thing the men do to the house before they finish work at the Raising?

3. What is an excuse for festivity as Marguerite guesses in the beginning of Part 2?

4. What does Dolly Sargent use to nurse her baby on the ship?

5. How does Marguerite get a bruise on her forehead?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is a Raising? Why does Caleb tell Marguerite it is important to the family?

2. Why do the children need to be cleaned up? Why do they protest?

3. What luxuries does Marguerite find herself indulging in at Aunt Hespa's house shortly after rescuing the cow and calf?

4. What story does Ira tell the children their first night on the ship?

5. What happens to the cow and her calf when they are put in the water to swim to shore? Who rescues them?

6. When the ship drops anchor at Falmouth, why do they decide to drop anchor outside of town?

7. What is Marguerite's understanding of her indentured servitude to the Sargents? How long is it to last?

8. What causes Marguerite a rare moment of happiness during the Raising?

9. What does Aunt Hespa show and teach Marguerite about while walking across the pastures on Sunday Island?

10. How does Caleb react when he finds Marguerite and the children wondering alone in the woods?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is a sugar maple? What does the Sargent family do with their sugar maple trees that brightens everyone's spirit in the aftermath of the winter? What other activities does the family begin to renew after the long winter? Why does Ira take Marguerite with him to visit Abby Welles? What does Abby give to Marguerite that makes her very happy? What does Marguerite later do with this item? Why does Marguerite sacrifice something that meant so much to her? What does this say about Marguerite's character?

Essay Topic 2

What is unusual about the winter weather the first winter the Sargents are on their farm? What does winter weather prevent? What change in sleeping habits does the cold weather force the family to make? How does Debby get burned? How does this impact the family? What does Marguerite do to try to save her? Does it work? How does Marguerite feel about Debby's injuries and subsequent death? How does Dolly react? What does this reaction say about Marguerite? About Dolly?

Essay Topic 3

Who is Ira Sargent? Why has he come to help settle his brother's new farm? What does Ira hope to get out of the work on the farm? Who catches Ira's eye from nearly the beginning? Who else was courting this girl? When does Ira learn that this girl has chosen him? Why does Ira not marry her immediately? What does Ira want to do before he can marry? Why does Ira leave on a ship for a time int he middle of summer? How does this impact the work on the farm?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,087 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample