View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Alice's mother doing for a living when she meets Alice's father?

2. What is the name of Calvin's youngest daughter?

3. What is Alice's maiden name?

4. What is written on the envelope in which Alice keeps special items?

5. Where does Alice spend her childhood?

Short Essay Questions

1. In chapter three, why does Alice accept the request to be photographed in a fashion issue of a magazine?

2. What is one positive quality that Alice inherits from her father? Why do you think this quality is especially beneficial to Alice?

3. Chapter three contains two humorous poems about Alice. What theme do they share?

4. In chapter one, Trillin reveals that although his readers become familiar with Alice as a sensible, somewhat serious character in his books and articles, they never really know her. Why?

5. Does Alice believe she is accurately portrayed in Trillin's books and articles? Briefly describe why or why not.

6. What event causes Alice to feel as though she loses her looks?

7. Calvin Trillin states that from the day he meets Alice, he never stops trying to impress her. Why?

8. In chapter two, Calvin Trillin reveals that he never stops trying to impress his wife Alice. Give an example of this.

9. When Calvin Trillin describes the first time he sees Alice in chapter two, what does he say is the first thing that strikes him about her? Is it simply her attractiveness, or something else?

10. In chapter two, Calvin Trillin draws a parallel in the relationship between the novelist Dick Francis and his late wife Mary and Trillin's own marriage to Alice. Explain.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In what ways does Trillin rely on his wife Alice in his professional life?

Part 1) What function does she have in Trillin's work routine?

Part 2) How is she portrayed in Trillin's writings?

Part 3) In what ways does Alice serve as a muse to her husband?

Cite examples from the book in your response.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of money in About Alice.

Part 1) What is Alice's attitude toward spending money? (Include the Alice Tax and Alice's Law of Compensatory Cash Flow in your response.)

Part 2) What is Calvin's attitude toward spending money? (Include Calvin's theory on writing the mortgage check.)

Compare and contrast the views of Alice and Calvin regarding money. To what extent are they products of their respective upbringings? Is money a source of conflict for them?

Cite examples from the book in your response.

Essay Topic 3

A few years after his wife Alice's diagnosis with lung cancer, Calvin Trillin is suddenly overcome with emotion in an airport.

Part 1) Describe the event and its significance in the memoir.

Part 2) What does this event say about Trillin's ability to process his wife's illness?

Part 3) Is Trillin in denial? If so, does he admit to it?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,134 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample