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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. Why does Mr. Larsen cut off his hand?

2. What food was shipped in to the farm from Chicago because Ralph craved it?

3. What does Ralph bring home to surprise Catherine one night?

4. Where did Catherine and Alice live after their father died?

5. What does Catherine do with the arsenic?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Truitt do regarding his business as his health rapidly deteriorates?

2. What happens between Antonio (Manetti) and Catherine when she finally goes to his apartment?

3. What does Antonio reveal to Catherine about his mother's death and what does he say he feels towards his father?

4. How long does Catherine wait before going to see Antonio and why does she write to Truitt about her upcoming visit?

5. Describe how Catherine vacillates on poisoning Truitt and how she makes the decision to stop altogether.

6. What had been Truitt's experience with arsenic when he was a younger man?

7. When does Truitt realize he is being poisoned and what does he do about it?

8. What does Catherine do to show that she is no longer trying to poison Truitt and is going to help him heal?

9. How can the phrase, "Such things happened" be interpreted as it relates to Alice's dismal life?

10. Why did Catherine prostitute herself and how does Alice end up doing the same thing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 2

A RELIABLE WIFE is a classic story of good vs. evil. What does that classification entail? Why does this story fit into this category? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,150 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample