View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Of what does April assure Jennifer?

2. What does April do when Frank approaches and touches her?

3. How does the Wheelers' daughter, Jennifer, react to their move to Europe?

4. On the drive from the mental hospital, how does John act toward his mother?

5. What does Pollock realize about Earl Wheeler?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Frank react when he awakens on a bright August morning to realize that this is the last day, according to April's calendar, when she could successfully perform an auto-abortion?

2. How does Frank react when April does not seem to think that what John said was insane?

3. What does April repeatedly ask Frank? What does she wonder about Frank?

4. What does Norma tell Frank?

5. What reactions do the Wheelers receive when they announce they have decided not to move to France?

6. What happens when Frank takes Milly home?

7. How does John act around the Wheelers?

8. What does April do with the letter she had written John?

9. What do the Wheelers figure about? How does Frank respond to this information?

10. For what does Pollock praise Frank?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The relationship between April and Frank Wheeler is constantly changing throughout this story.

Part 1) How does their relationship appear at the beginning of the story?

Part 2) How does it change throughout the play? What causes these changes?

Part 3) Would you consider this a typical American marriage? Why or why not?

Part 4) Is this relationship supposed to reveal something about real life? If so, what? If not, what is its purpose?

Essay Topic 2

The final chapter reveals the various characters dealing with the death of April.

Part 1) How do each of the characters grieve for April? What does this grief reveal about each of them?

Part 2) How do these varying forms of grief reflect how death affects people in real life?

Part 3) How might April feel if she could see her family and neighbors at this point? Use the story to support your response.

Essay Topic 3

The play begins with a community theater production of a play.

Part 1) What is the purpose of this play, regarding this story?

Part 2) What is learned about the various characters? Why is this important?

Part 3) How does the audience's reaction to the play mimic the feelings of the actors?

Part 4) What does this section of the book reveal about the Wheelers' relationship?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,126 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample