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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Jack's mother's support system after the accident?
(a) She does not have one.
(b) Reading and writing poetry.
(c) Her many close, religious friends who visit often and care for her.
(d) Eating and watching television alone.

2. What time of day is it when Jack brings in the herd from the upper pasture?
(a) Late evening.
(b) Early afternoon.
(c) Early morning.
(d) Midday.

3. What is Jack indignant about when he is in the kitchen?
(a) Everyone pretending eveything is ok.
(b) He is the only one working this hard.
(c) HIs mother is eating again.
(d) Everyone talking too loudly.

4. How much time has passed between David's death and harvest time in the fields?
(a) A year and a half.
(b) Three years.
(c) Six months.
(d) Two years.

5. Where did Jack's father perform?
(a) The Grange.
(b) The theatre hall.
(c) The town hall.
(d) An outdoor theatre.

Short Answer Questions

1. What are Jack's chores after the accident?

2. What is Phoebe's job after everyone has finished with lunch?

3. What finally ruins Jack's fantasy stories when he is driving the tractor in the field?

4. What is Phoebe doing in the kitchen when Jack comes in?

5. After the accident, what are the themes of Jack's stories?

Short Essay Questions

1. How old is Phoebe when she brings lunch out to the field? As she comes out to the field, how is she described by the narrator? What are her responsibilities?

2. Describe Jack's uncles. What do they do on the farm? What do they look like? How do they behave?

3. The author provides a vivid, detailed picture of Yegudkin, a much more detailed one than of any other character. What does Arcady Yegudkin look like?

4. As his lessons continue, what does Jack begin to realize about his teacher and his rants about America and Russia?

5. How does Jack respond to working with his uncles? How does he spend his time?

6. What is Jack's first reaction when he sees his father and what is occurring in the living room? Why can he not act on his impulse to run?

7. When Jack and Phoebe are having lunch and Jack does not want to say grace, he notices that Phoebe's eyes grow large with alarm. The narrator says, "and, though he did not know why, his heart gave a jump." Why does Jack's heart jump when he sees how frighted Phoebe is?

8. As Jack rides the tractor after the accident and tells his stories of woe, how does he react to who he has become?

9. What conclusion does Jack come to about himself after realizing he does not love people as well as he should? How does he react to his own conclusions?

10. Where is Arcady Yegudkin from? How does he get to America? What is his story?

(see the answer keys)

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