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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. When did Theo publish his first book?

2. Who does Laura wish to speak to in Chapter 19?

3. What book was Theo working on when Ben died?

4. How old would Ben be in Chapter 17 if he had lived?

5. What job did Irene have?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Miriam remember about hitchhiking with her friend Lorraine?

2. What did Theo do when he had horrible writer's block?

3. What does Irene remember about the first Christmas after WIlliam died?

4. What does Miriam remember about what happened after she and Lorraine got a ride with Jez?

5. What does Theo remember about the last time he saw Angela?

6. What does Laura take after getting groceries for Irene?

7. When was the second-to-last time that Theo saw Angela, and what did they discuss?

8. What is the boat like that is moored where Daniel's boat was?

9. Why did Laura stab a man in the hand with a fork?

10. How does Laura describe Miriam in Chapter 20?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Theo and Clara’s son Ben died when he was three. How did Ben die? What were the repercussions of his death and why?

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, some characters are more thoroughly described than others. Who are some characters that are merely named in passing or have a minor role in the novel? What is the importance of these flat characters to the storyline? In what way do these characters make the main characters more colorful or interesting? When there is conflict, what type of role do these flat characters play?

Essay Topic 3

The setting in a book is the place or places where the action takes place. Where does A Slow Fire Burning take place? Is the setting simply a backdrop to the story and characters or does it take on the role of a character?

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