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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 does Malcolm compliment Vivian on about the way she rides the horse?

2. In Chapter 5, what does Vivian order at lunch with Malcolm?

3. In Chapter 5, what does Malcolm do after he stops the car on their way back to Sandringham?

4. Where is Vivian Forest originally from?

5. In Chapter 4, why is Malcolm worried about Vivian when she first steps into the stables?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 4, how does Vivian end up feeling about riding a horse once she has done it for a short time?

2. How does it come to pass that Malcolm Hudson gives Vivian a tour of Sandringham Estate?

3. In Chapter 2, what does Malcolm tell Vivian his main job is?

4. In Chapter 1, what does Vivian briefly worry about before she goes down to the kitchen for breakfast on her first day at Sycamore Cottage?

5. In Chapter 5, how do Malcolm and Vivian communicate with each other when they are not face-to-face?

6. In Chapter 2, what has Malcolm noticed about how most people behave when they are guests of the royal family?

7. In Chapter 2, what question does Vivian ask Malcolm that is very forward and has to do with race?

8. In Chapter 4, why does Malcolm tell Vivian he learned to ride horses as an adult?

9. In Chapter 4, what do the royal stables mean to Vivian as she thinks about her impending visit there?

10. In Chapter 2, what is difficult for Vivian to get used to as she walks around Sandringham Estate with Malcolm and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, Guillory makes a point of highlighting how different characters respond to Vivian upon first meeting her; she seems to put most people at ease. Write an essay discussing how and why Guillory highlights Vivian's appeal to other characters in the book, and explore how Guillory's descriptions of Vivian's interactions with other people contributes to the development and exposition of Vivian's character.

Essay Topic 2

Why do you think Guillory chooses to keep some of the finer details of Vivian's and Malcolm's lives vague in her narration? For example, the reader knows Vivian acts as a caregiver for her sister Jo, and that Malcolm is stressed by the chaos in parliament, but Guillory does not expand upon these descriptions beyond very basic information. Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, how does Guillory emphasize Vivian's and Malcolm's strong connections and intuitive understanding of each other's character, personality, and preferences despite the short amount of time they have known each other? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

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