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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 do Alex and Holly talk about when he goes to see her at her apartment?

2. What is Mr. Carver doing in the car in Chapter 8?

3. What did the two families often do together on Saturdays?

4. Where do Holly and Phillip acquire much of their furnishings?

5. How does Phillip feel about the furnishings in his house?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 8, how does Phillip react to his sisters' actions? How does Alex react?

2. In Chapter 10, how does Lewis Shackleford see his friend, George Carver? What traits does he admire in his friend?

3. In Chapter 12, Phillip gives the four leaf clover pendant to Holly. How does she respond? What does Phillip know from her response?

4. In Chapter 8, Alex, Phillip and Father pull up to the house from the church. What is happening as they arrive? Why?

5. While George Carver and his wife are in St, Louis for business, what happens to the Mr. Shackleford's company? How does Mr. Carver react to this news?

6. In Chapter 9, Phillip explains the difference between his father and Alex Mercer as an important factor in their friendship. What is this difference?

7. During the drive from the church to Mr. Carver's home in Chapter 8, Phillip begins thinking of what his father might do next. What things does he think are possible? Why does he believe his father might do any of them?

8. What is Betsy's stated reason for Father not going to see Lewis Shackleford in Chapter 11? What is the real reason?

9. In Chapter 12, Phillip begins calling his father on a weekly basis. Why are those calls important to Phillip?

10. In Chapter 8, Betsy and Josephine have prepared a bed for Phillip in their father's study. However, Phillip does not stay. He leaves his father and sisters and returns to New York. Why does he not remain and defend his father against his sisters? Why does Phillip leave so hastily?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Phillip often mentions his sister's outlandish appearance and behavior in their middle age. He gives examples of their conversations in public places; their dress and accessories; their behavior with their father and others. In a way, the two sisters seem to blend into one by the end of the story. Describe the two women: who are they? How are they similar? How are they different?

Essay Topic 2

Phillip realizes his father did not consider how the move to Memphis would affect all members of the family. Was the move to Memphis the only thing to affect the Carvers? Was there another factor at play, one much more dramatic than the move, that actually changed the course of everyone's lives?

Essay Topic 3

Phillip has four women in his life. In Chapter 3, he presents a picture of his two sisters, his mother, and his girlfriend, Holly. Holly stands out as notably different, even opposite, from the three women in his family. Compare and contrast these four women. What are their strengths and weaknesses? How do they relate to the men in their lives? What might Phillip find appealing about Holly?

(see the answer keys)

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