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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. What in the messages leads Theresa and Deanna to discover Garrett's whereabouts?

2. In Chapter 1, on a cold December day, where does Theresa Osborne arrive?

3. What does Garrett think about while being with Theresa on his boat during their first date?

4. When Garrett puts a message in the bottle, how far does it travel from its original destination?

5. What is Garrett's full name?

Short Essay Questions

1. What surprises await Theresa when she returns to work on Monday following the publication of the message?

2. How does Theresa identify Garrett?

3. Why does Theresa think publishing the letter is morally wrong?

4. Why did Theresa divorce David and what happened with him afterward?

5. What were the two main uses of messages in a bottle throughout the years?

6. Where is Theresa at the start of the book, and why is she there?

7. What was Theresa excited about before she read the message in the bottle she first found on the beach?

8. How long does it take for Deanna to convince Theresa to publish the message?

9. Why is Theresa lonely, the summer she found the bottle?

10. What is Theresa's greatest fear concerning Kevin and David's relationship?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

After reading the "Message in a Bottle," look at the structure of the novel to analyze the development of the plot. Does the plot work? Does one complication lead to the next? Is the story arc smooth and include a rising action, climax, and resolution? Are subplots connected to the story distracting? Analyze the structure of the story and its circular structure in your discussion and use examples from the novel to support your discussion.

Essay Topic 2

Compare Theresa's loss of intimacy with Garrett's loss of Catherine. Discuss how loss affects their characters and brings them together. Provide examples from the book to support your discussion.

Essay Topic 3

Theresa introduces Kevin and Garrett when they go to Wilmington to visit for the weekend. Although she prepares her son, she may not have anticipated that Garrett remains plagued by memories of Catherine throughout their courtship and that Catherine was pregnant when she was killed. Does Kevin's relationship with Garrett add to the story or detract from it? Did the fact that Catherine was pregnant affect Garrett's relationship with Kevin? Support your statements with examples and quotes from the text.

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