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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 is the name of the family for whom Kim is attempting to design a house while the Harralson house is being built?

2. Who paid for the Harralson's house?

3. How long does Colquitt wait to have a dinner party to welcome the Sheehans?

4. In what month does Pie lose her baby?

5. Who finds the dead puppy?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Colquitt decide to leave the public relations company she worked at to do freelance public relations?

2. Why is Colquitt surprised to hear that a house is being built on the McIntyre lot?

3. Why do the Sheehans move to the Kennedys' neighborhood?

4. Why does Colquitt tie a knot in the bed sheets?

5. Why does the arrival of Duck at the dinner party upset Anita?

6. Why do Colquitt's neighbors begin to jab at her and Walter about her relationship with Kim?

7. Why does Walter say their yard looks like Disney World on the morning of Pie's party?

8. Why doesn't Pie plan to show her father the house plans before the house is built?

9. What is unusual about Pie's behavior in the hospital following her miscarriage?

10. What is unusual about Lucas' relationship with the Harralsons?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the author make the house a character in the novel? What techniques does she use? What is the reaction of Colquitt and Kim to the house? How do their feelings about the house change as the novel progresses?

Essay Topic 2

What tone does the author set at the outset of the novel? How does she do this? Is her use of tone effective? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

How does The House Next Door fit into the horror genre? What elements of a horror novel does it have? Is it a typical horror novel? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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