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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. Delphine was visited by a __________ student who complained that Coleman had called her a derogatory name.

2. What does Delphine obtain once she begins to hear rumors of Coleman's relationship with Faunia?

3. Despite a broken __________ and a tattoo from his experience, Coleman survived.

4. Coleman compares the men around Faunia to __________ and thinks the men are thinking about taking advantage of her as well.

5. Coleman believes his children would not believe all the lies had he just told them the truth about their ___________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to stop Coleman from going to Delphine's office to confront her?

2. What does Les think he has to do in order to be able to feel things again?

3. What happens to the personal ad Delphine sends out in order to find love?

4. What does Nathan come to realize is the reason why Coleman stayed away from him?

5. What does Coleman encourage Faunia to do that Steena once did with him in the past?

6. What is the rumor that Jeff tells Coleman Lisa has heard, causing the rift in their relationship?

7. What are Delphine's ideas about women and about their sexuality?

8. What does Nathan think about Coleman's absence at first when Coleman stops spending time with him?

9. What was the complaint that Coleman refused to listen to from a student, which made Delphine an adversary?

10. What is the real reason Faunia gets angry with Coleman for reading to her when they get up the next morning?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The children in Coleman's family seem to side with everyone else besides their father.

Part 1: Why do you think Coleman's children were so distant from him in the end?

Part 2: Do you think the choice of the funeral at the college chapel was also an attempt to hide their father's true identity? Why or why not?

Part 3: If you were one of Coleman's children, would you be upset with him? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The war seems to have done quite a number of Les when he is described in this book.

Part 1: Why do you think war veterans can have so many mental disorders when they come back home?

Part 2: Do you think that Les could ever be rehabilitated?

Part 3: How do you think Les has changed from before he went to war?

Essay Topic 3

It's interesting that the story includes a modern day reference to the Bill Clinton scandal, as it mirrors other events in the story as well.

Part 1: Why do you think the author decided to include the reference to the Bill Clinton scandal?

Part 2: Do you think Clinton's situation and Coleman's situation are similar? Why or why not?

Part 3: What do you think the novel has to say about affairs between older men and younger women?

(see the answer keys)

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