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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 song does Garnett whistle while mailing his letter?

2. In Chapter 10, how many days have passed since Cole's death?

3. Why does Lusa use buckets to catch rainwater?

4. What killed Garnett's chestnut trees?

5. How old is Eddie?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Deanna's main defense of coyotes, concerning the killing of farm livestock?

2. Do you think it odd that Lusa dreams of a moth making love to her?

3. Why does Eddie make Deanna nervous?

4. What is Garnett's basic persona, when we first get to know him?

5. What is Deanna's demeanor, when Eddie leaves, after staying with her for nine days?

6. Do you think Eddie respects Deanna?

7. In Chapter 11, Deanna and Eddie are talking about who built Deanna's cabin. Explain the Walker family and their influence on the land in this area.

8. What is Eddie like, at the beginning of the book and how does Deanna react to him?

9. Why do Cole and Lusa fight a lot?

10. What are Garnett's views of the Amish?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Deanna and Lusa are both strong women, each in her own right. Which woman do you believe to be the stronger overall? Give three examples to support this and explain why you chose one and not the other.

Essay Topic 2

In "Prodigal Summer", we read of the departures of various people. Choose one of the following people: the father of Jewel's children, Cole, Eddie. Discuss the effects that their departure has had on others. What are the short-term and long-term effects? What might have been different, had they stayed? Are others better off for them having left?

Essay Topic 3

Eddie Bondo is portrayed as a character that is easy to distrust. Citing examples from the book, discuss what you think his true character is. Has he been accurately portrayed? Would you consider him a good person or not? What are Deanna's expectations of him? Did this have an effect on how you viewed him?

(see the answer keys)

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