1 In whose point of view does the story begin? The wind's Paul's Ellen's The baby's 2 When does Ellen light the lamp? Just after noon Just before noon Around midnight None of these 3 What covers the baby's crib? Nylon Nothing Linen Muslin 4 What does Ellen worry will happen if she takes the baby out of the crib? He'll sneeze He'll die suddenly He'll catch pneumonia None of these 5 What gathers on the dishes? Rain leaking in A film of dust Bacteria None of these 6 How many days of dust storms have there been at the point the story begins? Four Three It's the first None of these 7 What happens to Ellen's eyes after she stares out the window? They won't stop watering They are stuck open They won't open None of these 8 Why does Ellen light the lamp? She is cold She is going blind Airborne dust blocks sunlight None of these 9 What is Ellen cooking for lunch ("dinner" in the story)? Bacon Eggs Mashed potatoes None of these 10 How does the narrator personify the two types of wind Ellen hears? The wind who is feeble and the wind who is strong The wind in flight and the wind that pursued The wind who was scared and the wind that comforts None of these 11 What are eaves? A type of retro chair A style of bangs The part of a roof that meets or overhangs the walls of a building None of these 12 What does Ellen immediately do when Paul comes in the house the first time? Rushes to the stove Runs to his arms Begins yelling at him None of these 13 What does Paul say when he sees the lamp is lit? Why doesn't she just use a flashlight It's a waste of kerosene He had to light his lantern in the tool shed as well None of these 14 Why does Ellen wipe the table and dishes again? She has obsessive-compulsive disorder Too much rain water has come in More dust has settled on them None of these 15 When Ellen says the dust collects faster than she can keep up with it, what does Paul say? It's much worse for him out on the farm It's her job to deal with dust The dust storm will go down tonight None of these 16 Why is Ellen tense when Paul first comes in the house? She worries he is tracking in more dust She is aroused They quarrelled that morning and the day before None of these 17 After mashing potatoes in silence, what does Ellen finally admit to Paul? Their baby is dead She doesn't love him anymore She can't stand life on the farm any longer None of these 18 What reason does Paul give for not leaving the farm? He hates Ellen's family in town He says the dry years will end and the farm will become profitable He hates living in cities because he'll just drink and gamble None of these 19 What does Ellen compare the farm to? A rocky slope A desert A fertile valley The bottom of a lake 20 What crop has Paul been trying to farm? Prairie grass Potatoes Wheat Lettuces 21 What work waits for Paul if they do go to town? Sweeping out Ellen's father's store Driving a bus Plumbing None of these 22 Where does Paul tell Ellen he belongs? On the farm In his tool shed In town None of these 23 When Paul says it would be charity to take a job from her father, why does Ellen accuse him of hypocrisy? It's honest work, not charity Her father needs the help because business is booming The farm is sustained on government assistance and debts None of these 24 Paul believes Ellen wants to return to town for what reason? She wants to humiliate Paul She is genuinely concerned about their baby's future She selfishly wants nice things like she's used to None of these 25 Why does Ellen think it isn't just "the dry years" that they have to worry about? She doesn't want to be the mother of a farmer A lack of root fibers means the soil is blowing away Paul's social isolation is turning him into an unlovable person None of these
