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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. How much does Paul believe Claire knows about the boys' involvement in the incident?

2. How does the bike shop owner respond to Paul's visit?

3. Outside the restaurant, what additional information does Michel reveal to Paul?

4. How does Paul react to the bike shop owner's tirade?

5. After the incident at the bike shop, what agreement do Paul and Michel make?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has Paul prepared for dinner when Serge and Babette visit while Claire is in the hospital? Why?

2. How does Babette respond to the dessert in Chapter 36?

3. What comes about in the discussion between Paul and Claire regarding a second child?

4. What justificaton is given for the boys' actions in Chapter 21?

5. How is Beau's behavior compared with that of Michel and Rick in the scenario presented in Chapter 21?

6. How is Claire treated for her illness in Chapter 34?

7. What is a flashback? How are flashbacks used in The Dinner?

8. What does Paul suggest Michel do about the cell phone in Chapter 26?

9. What advice does Paul give to Michel in Chapter 23? Why?

10. What treatment does Paul receive for his medical condition?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does the story of Michel and Rick tell us about nature/nurture? How does Beau view his adaptive family? What have they taught him about how to succeed in the world?

Essay Topic 2

Explore Paul's attitudes towards history and humanity. As you watched him lose his job, and later explode during his confrontation with Michel's principal, did you perceive him as ill? Selfish? Rational?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the plot structure of The Dinner. Where in the narrative does the rising action begin? What is the catalytic event that drives the plot of the story? Where is the novel's climax? What is revealed in the falling action and denouement?

(see the answer keys)

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