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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. At the end of chapter three, Calvin describes an event in Alice's life that takes her by surprise. What happens?

2. What is Alice's reasoning for agreeing to be photographed in a fashion issue of a magazine?

3. Which phrase best characterizes the relationship that Alice has with her parents?

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

5. In what year does Alice die?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Calvin Trillin's father-in-law.

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

3. According to Calvin Trillin, Alice's beauty gives her some advantages. Explain.

4. In what ways are Alice's looks, coupled with the superficial facts about her background, misleading?

5. What are some of the adversities Alice faces throughout her life?

6. In chapter one, the reader learns that there is one condolence letter that makes Calvin Trillin laugh. Why?

7. In what ways do you think Alice serves as Calvin Trillin's muse? Include characteristics that inspire his writing.

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

9. 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.

10. What does Alice keep in her Important Things envelope? Why are the things inside it so important to her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Select one of the major themes or subjects below from About Alice. Be sure to select a theme or subject about which you have not already written a detailed essay.

• The relationship between Calvin and Alice.

• Marriage.

• Perseverance.

• Loss.

• Cigarettes.

• Beauty

• The relationship between Alice and her parents.

• The relationship between Alice and her daughters.

• Gratitude.

• Social activism.

• Money.

• Parenthood.

Be sure to include quotes from the novel that help develop the theme.

Essay Topic 2

Calvin Trillin states that Alice takes on a caretaker role with her parents early on in life.

Part 1) Compare and contrast the type of relationship Alice has with her parents with that of Alice's relationship with her own daughters.

Part 2) Who is a better role model, Alice or Alice's mother? Why?

Include examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

Explore the concept of love between a husband and wife in About Alice. Be sure to answer the following questions:

• How does Trillin portray his love for his wife?

• How does Trillin portray Alice's love for him?

• What is unique about their marriage? Is it a marriage of equals? Why or why not?

• What statement does Trillin's memoir make about his love for her?

Cite examples from the book in your response.

(see the answer keys)

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