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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. In Chapter 3, what assumptions did Sarah make about Miles that she found to be incorrect at their first meeting?

2. In Chapter 6, what was the first thing that went wrong in Sarah's day?

3. Where does the unnamed narrator say Missy worked shortly after her wedding to Miles?

4. What is the point of view used in the majority of this novel?

5. Why does Sarah tell her mother Miles agreed to work Thanksgiving Day?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the unnamed narrator tell the reader he went to Missy's funeral?

2. What caused the demise of Sarah's marriage? How does she feel about this?

3. Who does the unnamed narrator say this story is about? Why does he preface this by telling the reader all about Missy Ryan?

4. In Chapter 13, Miles asks Sarah about living in the big city. What does Sarah tell him? How does he react?

5. How does Sarah react to the news that her ex-husband is planning to remarry? Why does she react this way?

6. Whom does Sarah run into as she waits for Miles to get their drinks at the Tavern? What is her initial impression of him?

7. In Chapter 7, why does Miles suddenly feel pressured to ask Sarah out? Why does he not do it?

8. Why has Sarah Andrews moved to New Bern? Why did she choose an apartment in downtown New Bern despite the difficult parking situation?

9. Why does Jonah object in Chapter 5 to having to stay after school with Miss Andrews several times a week? How does Miles talk him into cooperating?

10. What are the two boys hunting in an abandoned house when Miles catches them in chapter 7? What does he do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do Miles and Sarah meet the first time? What are their impressions of one another? How can the reader tell how Miles feels about Sarah? How can the reader see how Sarah feels about Miles? Why does it take so long for Miles to ask Sarah out? What experience does Miles have in this area? How does Sarah react when Miles finally attempts to ask her out? What does this say about Sarah? Why does Miles feel the need to explain what dating means to Jonah? What impact might a new romantic relationship for Miles mean for Jonah? Does Jonah's age impact this any? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Who is Missy Ryan? How did she die? What does the unnamed narrator say about Missy? Why does the unnamed narrator make it clear that this book is not about Missy? What was Miles and Missy's relationship like? How might their lives had played out if Missy had not been killed? What impact did Missy's death have on her son? What impact did it have on her husband? How did Missy's death impact the small town of New Bern? How do these changes play a role in this novel?

Essay Topic 3

Why does Sarah invite Miles and Jonah to have Thanksgiving with her family? What do Sarah's parents think of Miles and Jonah? What is Sarah's relationship like with Brian, her brother? How does Brian react to meeting Miles and Jonah? What explanation does the reader infer from this reaction? Later, what makes Miles think he might like to marry Sarah someday? How does this realization make Miles feel about Missy? What impact might this have on Jonah? Is Sarah aware of the depth of Miles' feelings? How does the reader know this?

(see the answer keys)

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