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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 did Smarsh's grandfather Chic die?

2. What did Jeannie have a knack for as far as home decorating?

3. What did Smarsh's family think about insurance for property?

4. Who did Smarsh say she became a mother to at a very young age?

5. How much money did Boeing once cut a check to Betty's grandmother for?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Nick's pole barn burn down?

2. What kinds of health epidemics does Smarsh say rural families often face today?

3. In Part I, what is one of Nick's greatest accomplishments in carpentry?

4. In Part II, what event with small animals greatly upsets Smarsh?

5. Why was Nick's barn burning down such a blow to Smarsh's family?

6. In Part I, what is one main reason Betty says yes when Arnie asks her to dance the first time they meet?

7. How does Nick become so sick in Part II?

8. Why does Smarsh love going to church as a child?

9. What are Smarsh's memories of her father Nick like from childhood?

10. In Part I, what happens shortly after the birth of Smarsh's brother that upsets and weights on Jeannie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does going away to college change Smarsh's relationship with her family and of their perceptions of her? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 5, on page 200, Smarsh's father Nick tells her a parable about a hard-working carpenter who intentionally does a shoddy job on a house for the first time in his life, only to have his supervisor hand him the keys to the house as a reward for his years of hard work. Write an essay exploring the meaning of this story as it relates specifically to Smarsh's family's situation and outlook on work, poverty, and opportunity.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing Smarsh's exploration of the history of women's rights work and progressive activism in Kansas state politics, citing specific references to the text to help support your answers.

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This section contains 749 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample