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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 state was Cross Creek located in?

2. What was the name of Rawlings's dog that was sent back to the city after failing miserably at farm life?

3. Where did the cow kick Rawlings the first time she tried to milk it?

4. Why did the Townsends invite Rawlings over for a party?

5. What did Moe Sykes do for a living?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did the Townsends entertain Rawlings at their pound party?

2. How did Rawlings describe the woman playing piano that she met while taking census information with Zelda?

3. How did Rawlings acquire the antique bed in her house?

4. What type of relationship did Rawlings notice between young and old magnolia trees while she was living in Cross Creek?

5. How did Rawlings become involved in the Townsend children's education?

6. Why did Mr. Swilley believe that Rawlings was in love with him, and why did Rawlings let him go from her service?

7. What type of relationship did Rawlings have with Black Aunt Martha Mickens?

8. What type of relationship did Rawlings have with the Mickens family while they were employed by her?

9. Why did Rawlings return Georgia to her father?

10. What connection did Rawlings see between African-American children and imagination through her experiences with Patsy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the course of the memoir, Rawlings hired and fired many servants. Describe Rawlings's favorite servant. How did this servant compare to Rawlings's least favorite servant. What does Rawlings's treatment of her hired help tell the reader about her views of humanity in general?

Essay Topic 2

In Cross Creek there were seven families, five white and two black. First, list all seven families that lived in Cross Creek and give a short description of each family. Then, describe Rawlings's relationship with her neighbors. Why was it important for Rawlings to list the races of the families in Cross Creek in the opening chapter? How does this identification give the reader further insight into the social dynamics of Cross Creek? Did this identification of race prove to be important to understanding the memoir as as whole?

Essay Topic 3

Rawlings had a fascination with the flowers in Cross Creek but particularly with the magnolia trees. First, describe the magnolia trees and explain their life cycle. What relationship do young magnolia trees have to old magnolia trees? What symbolism did Rawlings find in the groves of magnolia trees? How did Rawlings's relationship with the magnolia trees in Cross Creek directly mirror or reflect her relationship with her own family?

(see the answer keys)

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