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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 nickname do old people give to arsenic?

2. Who is the young widow with whom Antonio gets involved?

3. What does Catherine realize about her own health when she is in Chicago?

4. What does Catherine do with the arsenic?

5. Who does Catherine hire in Chicago to work in the Italian house?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the link between poison and passion for Truitt at this point in his life?

3. What image does Catherine see float down toward Alice and what does Catherine realize about her own life from this point on?

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

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

6. What is the nature of the encounter between Catherine and Alice in present day St. Louis?

7. In what way are Truitt and Antonio similar in the way they use sex?

8. How does Truitt think Antonio is just like himself at that age?

9. How does Truitt feel when Catherine returns home without Antonio and what is Truitt's suggestion for their life?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses some important instances of flashbacks in the story. Explain what a flashback is and cite at least two making sure to explain what makes each a flashback.

Essay Topic 2

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 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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