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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. From what state has the woman in #55 moved?

2. What do the men in Lottie's family do all day, every day?

3. Who did Lottie marry in 1917?

4. What is Lottie's friend, Sade's, last name?

5. What does the doctor say is the source of Betty's illness?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author show that Charles is losing his rational mind?

2. What is the connection that Betty draws between the Depression and infidelity and which of Lottie's friends is directly affected?

3. How does the author use punctuation to indicate the speakers in the story?

4. What does Lottie do when Charles does nothing when a boy is killed at the mill?

5. What is the premise of A CURE FOR DREAMS?

6. Who is Trudy Woodlief and why does she create such a stir when she arrives in town?

7. Why is no serious investigation ever launched to determine Roy's murderer?

8. How does Lottie intervene in Sade's marriage regarding her cheating husband?

9. What is the probable reason for Charles' suicide?

10. What are some mentions of popular culture that Betty notes in her story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the ongoing conflict between Charles and Lottie. What are the main sources of the conflicts? Why does it perpetuate? Why does the conflict between Charles and Lottie occur shortly after their marriage?

Essay Topic 2

Project into the future ten years after the end of the novel and write a brief synopsis for Marjorie's life. Will the memories of her mother and grandmother still be such a powerful presence in her life? What is the nature of her relationships based on what she learned from her mother and grandmother?

Essay Topic 3

The story in A CURE FOR DREAMS is essentially told via flashbacks. What is a flashback? Why would an author choose to utilize a flashback in his work? Are there benefits to utilizing flashbacks when creating a work of fiction? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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