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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 what year does the novel begin?

2. Who/What is on the train for which Ralph is waiting?

3. What does Ralph's head hit when he is tossed from the carriage?

4. What did Ralph do after college?

5. What bothers Catherine about her plan to get rid of Ralph now?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who are the two main characters in A RELIABLE WIFE?

2. Why is the author's description of the weather so critical to the book?

3. What does Truitt tell Catherine about his life with Emilia and the house he built for her?

4. In what way does Ralph and Catherine's relationship begin with a lie?

5. What is the significance of the canary that Catherine purchases?

6. What is the one expectation that Truitt has of Catherine by sending her to St. Louis?

7. Describe the carriage accident in which Ralph is hurt.

8. What internal conflict does a youthful Truitt experience during his days of debauchery in Europe?

9. What are some of Truitt's thoughts during his delirium, especially related to his domineering mother and his own youthful thoughts of lust?

10. What is the significance of Truitt's mother stabbing him with a needle and then the resulting scar that reminds him of the act?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses more than one instance of irony in the book. Cite at least two examples you can identify in the novel and note why they are examples of irony.

Essay Topic 2

Explain why Catherine becomes obsessed with nurturing and reviving the "secret garden" of the Italian house? What insights does this preoccupation reveal about Catherine's character?

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study of Antonio. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him--if anything--at this point in his life?

(see the answer keys)

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