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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 old is Novalee Nation when the story begins?

2. Where do Novalee and Americus stay during the natural disaster?

3. Chapter 23 talks about what natural disaster?

4. Besides two books, what does Forney bring with him every evening when he visits?

5. What city does Novalee travel to in Chapter 22?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who are the police considering as suspects in the disappearance of Americus?

2. What are Lexie's children's names and what do they tell us about Lexie?

3. What is the significance of Novalee's daughter's name, Americus?

4. What is ironic about where Sister Husband lives and Novalee and her dream?

5. Describe how Novalee helps out during the tornado.

6. Why is Willy Jack pulled over?

7. What does Novalee find in the library?

8. How is Willy Jack trying to change his life after being released from prison?

9. How is Novalee's superstition coming into play?

10. How is Ruth Meyers not like the other women in Willy Jack's life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The buckeye tree and the Christmas tree are important in this story. To whom are they important? Why and how are they important? Is there a relationship between these trees and superstition?

Essay Topic 2

How are each of the gifts Novalee receives her first day in town at Wal-Mart symbolic to her own life? Tell what the gift is, what is symbolic about it, and how does this symbolism relate to Novalee.

Essay Topic 3

There are times within the story that foreshadowing is a key element. List at least 3 events of foreshadowing evident throughout the story. Do you think that the author used foreshadowing effectively in this story? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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