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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 decision does Lucy make in Book V, pp. 633-645?

2. What job does Cassie's mother have to do when sold to the Marsdens?

3. How does Lucy feel about where Will wants to take Ned?

4. Why does Maimie always quit her job?

5. What does Maimie put in Bianca's hair as a treatment?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the circumstances in which Maimie is terminated by Angus McCloud?

2. Why would Unison have behaved so mournfully at Prothero's funeral, especially when she did not care for him?

3. What prevents Lucy from leaving with the children?

4. Describe how Cassie and her family members were taken aboard the big boat in Africa.

5. Who is Maimie L. Beech?

6. Why does Maimie decide to kill herself?

7. What was the fate of Cassie and her parents?

8. Why did Bianca try to push Lucy toward social refinement and how did Lucy feel about it?

9. What lie does Ned tell his mother and what did he actually do?

10. Why does Lucy decide to leave her family and what gives her validation on her decision?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Gurganus' writing style. How is he different from other writers of his time? What are some of his characteristic writing techniques? Identify some examples of his classic style in OLDEST LIVING CONFEDERATE WIDOW TELLS ALL.

Essay Topic 2

The theme of the passage of time will be an important one in the novel. How does the author begin to build this theme? Give examples of the passage of time throughout the book.

Essay Topic 3

Gurganus uses beautifully descriptive language in the book to help his readers see his world from his perspective. Without referring to the book, describe some situation or location in the book using only your recall of Gurganus' descriptions.

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This section contains 1,103 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample