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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 does Pickles realize as he sees a man with a bloody knife?

2. What interrupts Ben and Willa?

3. Why is Pickles angry regarding Willa?

4. Who is Lily Mercy trying to avoid encountering?

5. Who is Nathan Torrence?

Short Essay Questions

1. With whom does Willa meet to make sure she is adhering to the rules of the will, what does Willa tell them, and what do they think about her ideas?

2. Who is the ranch foreman, of what does he assure Willa, and what is his and Willa's relationship?

3. Where does Tess go after the funeral, who is her mother, and what is her mother like? Why did her mother marry her father?

4. What do Nate, Adam and Ben do after the party and the discovery outside?

5. Why is Ben's mother, Sarah, concerned about him and what does he tell her?

6. What did Lily consider the trip to Mercy Ranch to be and how do her and Adam handle her revelations?

7. What does Ham say to Willa about the ranch and her in Chapter 16?

8. What does Tess insist Willa do when she returns from checking on the deer in the woods, and what interrupts that?

9. What does Willa teach her sisters in Chapter 15 and what does Tess do after that?

10. What is the killer feeling after he kills Pickles and what does he decide at that point?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Montana Sky, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not? Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

In this book, three sisters meet, live together for a year, meet men and end up either married or ready to be married. The plot is almost unbelievable.

1. With research, define narrative contrivance and use two situations from Montana Sky to support your definition.

2. Discuss the following statement: Narrative contrivances detract from a book if they are too unbelievable.

3. Do you think the author could have written a better book if she had not made the situation of three sisters meeting three men and just happen to fall in love with those three men all living in a small town? Explain what might have been more believable.

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Montana Sky help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Montana Sky? Why or why not?

3. Choose one specific incident in Montana Sky to discuss and compare Willa's response to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

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