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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. Who was responsible for the death of Bob's father?

2. What does Christopher plant for Olive when he brings her a typewriter?

3. How old was the MacPhersons' grandson when he and their daughter lived with them for a time?

4. How old is Olive when she has a heart attack?

5. How much money did Elaine Croft receive in her sexual harrassment suit?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Jack tell Olive when they flew to Oslo, and she refused to fly first class?

2. What does Olive do when Jack awakes at the end of "Pedicure" and does not know where he is?

3. What does Fergus prefer doing instead of Civil War Days?

4. Why does Olive decide she needs a typewriter, and how does she get one?

5. What is the main issue with the way that Fergus and Ethel live?

6. Who does Jack see when he is in Shirley Falls with Olive, and what is that person doing there?

7. What were the circumstances surrounding the death of Jim and Bob's father?

8. What happens to Fergus when Lisa is playing her documentary?

9. How do Olive and Isabelle start watching out for each other?

10. What were the circumstances behind Olive's heart attack?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Kayley is an eighth-grader whose father died two years ago. What type of relationship did Kayley have with her father? How has his death affected her life? How does she deal with the loss?

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, some characters are more thoroughly described than others. Who are some characters that are merely named in passing or have a minor role in the novel? What is the importance of these flat characters to the story line? In what way do these characters make the main characters more colorful or interesting? When there is conflict, what type of role do these flat characters play?

Essay Topic 3

Margaret and Helen are very different people. How are Margaret and Helen different from one another? In what way are they prejudiced against each other? How does prejudice affect their relationship?

(see the answer keys)

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