"Winter 1934"

Why does Billie Jo's father treat her like a boy?

• He always wanted a son.

• Billie Jo is a boy.

• Billie Jo looks just like her brother.

• Billie Jo looks just like he did as a child.

The text states that Ma says Great-Uncle Floyd is as “mean as a rattler” to insinuate

• that he has a nasty personality.

• he has a very long body.

• when he yells, he hisses like a snake.

• he gets so angry he shakes.

When Billie Jo explains she has “a hunger for playing fierce piano,” she means

• she wants a piano in her home, but the family can’t afford one.

• she plays so long that she forgets to eat.

• she strives to be an amazing pianist.

• she only likes playing loud and emotional songs on the piano.

Billie Jo writes, "I hollared myself red the day I was born. Red's the color I've stayed ever since." A reasonable inference from this statement is

• Billie Jo always seems unhappy about something.

• Billie Jo's skin and hair are red.

• Billie Jo likes the color red.

• Billie Jo has a very loud voice.

From whose perspective is the story being told?

• Mr. Hardley

• Livie

• Billie Jo

• Ma

Billie Jo compares her Ma to an “old mule on the subject of school.” What does she mean by this?

• Her Ma thinks that Billie Jo’s teacher should teach more about animals.

• Her Ma is confused and unaware of what kids in school are learning about.

• Her Ma is stubborn and doesn’t like her playing the piano on a school night.

• Her Ma thinks that Billie Jo should have homework every night of the week.

Mr. Hardly is described as a man known for "charging too much for his stale food, and he made bad change when he could get away with it." Which two character traits describe him best?

• generous/cheating

• cheating/greedy

• sweet/kind

• giving/greedy

Who is president of the United States during the setting of this novel?

• Theodore Roosevelt

• Herbert Hoover

• Woodrow Wilson

• Franklin D. Roosevelt

How long did the drought last before the rain came in February of 1934?

• thirty days

• fifty days

• a month

• seventy days

Billie Jo writes, “and we were all whittled down to the bone these days,” meaning that they

• have all learned how to carve wood.

• all know how to play new instruments.

• are so hungry that they eat all meat down to the bone.

• are so hungry that their bodies are getting very thin.