The Dry

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Shooting rabbits is a common motif in The Dry. What does the shooting of rabbits symbolize for Falk in the novel?

A) The killing of innocence

B) The lie used for an alibi

C) The loss of friendship

D) The hope for a better future

2. What do the fire warning signs throughout the novel foreshadow for the reader?

A) The increased risk of danger

B) The rising action of the story

C) The growing suspicion around Whitlam

D) The intensifying pressure Falk feels

3. Which of the following best represents the novel’s theme of Choices and Consequences?

A) Falk discovers a rabbit he left in Luke’s care has died.

B) Falk leaves a lighter in the rock tree, and the landscape is later burned.

C) Deacon is accused of killing Karen and is later confirmed to have been on the phone.

D) Falk agrees to a false alibi with Luke, which puts them both under suspicion.

4. How does the relationship between Falk and Gretchen change throughout the novel?

A) They grow closer than ever because of their shared experiences.

B) They forgive one another, but Falk’s accusation keeps a distance between them.

C) They forgive one another, and they remain as close as when the novel began.

D) They carry on their romantic relationship at the end of the novel.

5. Which of the following best describes the relationship Luke had with his friends Gretchen and Falk?

A) Luke was very important to Falk and Gretchen, but it was not reciprocated.

B) Luke was important to Gretchen but not as important to Falk.

C) Luke admired Falk but behaved as though Gretchen was disposable.

D) Luke was admired by Gretchen and Falk, but Luke cared only about Ellie.

6. What inferences can be drawn about why Billy was not at the playdate at the Whitlams’ as he had planned?

A) Billy did not want to go.

B) Karen did not trust Whitlam any longer.

C) The Hadler family did not have the money to pick Billy up.

D) Luke and Karen wanted a witness.

7. What does Whitlam’s blaming of Karen for Billy’s death reveal about Whitlam?

A) He is making excuses for his behavior and justifying his actions.

B) He feels no guilt for the murders of the Hadlers.

C) He thinks stealing the grant money was a necessary evil.

D) He believes what he did was right.

8. What is the significance of McMurdo’s statement that “gambling only works if you back the right horse”?

A) McMurdo is implying that he will not permit Whitlam to leave a tab because he is a gambler.

B) McMurdo is implying that Falk is chasing the wrong lead.

C) McMurdo’s statement causes Falk to reevaluate his original direction.

D) McMurdo’s statement is an encouragement for Whitlam to move to a place where there is more water.

9. Why should Erik, Falk’s father, have believed Falk when he said he did not kill Ellie?

A) Deacon accused Erik of sleeping with his wife and it wasn’t true.

B) Deacon was aggressive and often fought with everyone.

C) Deacon had dementia and couldn’t remember if Falk had done it.

D) Deacon was a bully and treated everyone poorly.

10. What is the most prevalent problem facing Raco and Falk in their investigation?

A) Many people in the community lie about things unrelated to the case.

B) Whitlam lied about his involvement in the crime.

C) Deacon and Grant’s small-town justice hinders the investigation.

D) Deacon desires retribution from Falk.

11. What is the most likely reason Luke consistently insists he and Falk stick to their rabbit-shooting story, even when they are alone?

A) Luke thinks Falk will tell the police what he has done.

B) Luke feels guilty because he did not help Ellie.

C) Luke doesn’t want Falk to get in trouble.

D) Luke doesn’t want anyone to know he was with Gretchen.

12. Why does Deacon decide to leave the farm to Grant?

A) Deacon’s only living relation after Ellie’s death is Grant.

B) Deacon killed Ellie, and Grant knows about it.

C) Deacon killed Ellie and asked Grant to help him cover it up.

D) Deacon wants Grant to take care of him in his old age.

13. Which of the following symbolizes Falk’s making peace with his past?

A) He goes to visit his former home.

B) He visits his mother’s grave.

C) He retrieves the lighter he left in the rock tree.

D) He makes his peace with Gretchen.

14. When does Falk decide he has finally become the man to stand up to Deacon?

A) When he fights Deacon in the driveway

B) When he presses criminal charges against Deacon for damaging his car

C) When he confronts Deacon at the bar

D) When he finds Ellie’s diary and presumably turns it in as evidence

15. What does the town of Kiewarra mean to Falk?

A) Comfort and familiarity

B) Peace and friendship

C) Hardship and famine

D) Rejection and regret

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. Which clues in the novel point to Luke’s guilt, and which provide Luke with redeeming qualities? How do the descriptions of Luke add to the suspense of the novel and lead readers astray?

2. What role does the drought in Kiewarra play in The Dry?