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. In Chapter 12, what was Fluffy worried about meeting Danny as an adult for the first time?

2. Where does Danny end up attending medical school?

3. What do Celeste and Danny do one last time before they part ways?

4. Where does Danny run into Celeste again after their breakup?

5. In Chapter 13, what does Danny buy Celeste as a surprise?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 13, what do Danny and Celeste do for childcare arrangements when their second child is due very shortly after having their first child?

2. In Chapter 14, what role does Maeve play in Danny's growing real estate business?

3. In Chapter 8, how does Danny meet Celeste on the train?

4. In Chapter 12, what does Danny realize about his feelings towards Fluffy as he leaves their meeting?

5. In Chapter 8, what happens to Danny that makes Maeve tell him she must die first?

6. In Chapter 8, what does Maeve tell Danny about her feelings about his becoming a doctor?

7. In Chapter 8, what does Celeste say to Danny when he tells her he does not want to marry her right away?

8. In Chapter 13, under what circumstances do Danny and Celeste move into their new family home?

9. In Chapter 12, what does Fluffy tell Danny that utterly shocks him?

10. In Chapter 8, what does Danny's professor, Dr. Able, tell him about chemistry?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

While Danny carries some resentments towards his father Cyril into adulthood, he generally regards his father with respect and goodwill. Danny does, however, lament that his father neglected to show more warmth and affection towards him and Maeve. Write an essay comparing and contrasting the way Danny remembers Cyril parenting himself and Maeve with how Danny himself parents his own children, May and Kevin.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing the evolution of Danny's and Maeve's attitudes and feelings towards Fluffy from their childhood through their adulthood. Cite specific references to the text to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

At different points all throughout the novel, Danny wonders to himself and aloud to Maeve how accurate their memories and recollections of the past are. Write an essay analyzing Patchett's treatment of the theme of memory, and on how reliable any one individual's memory of the past is in this novel.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 780 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample