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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. How does Calvin describe the impact of Alice's beauty on her life?

2. In what year does Alice die?

3. According to Calvin, why does Alice take out bank loans in her twenties?

4. What is Alice's maiden name?

5. What reasons does Calvin give for stating that "Alice doesn't look like who she is"?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

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

4. 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.

5. 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?

6. In chapter one, Calvin Trillin states that the stories he writes about his family can be compared what kinds of television shows?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

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

In what ways does Alice express her gratitude throughout her lifetime? What reasons does she give for being grateful? Be sure to address the following:

• How does her sense of gratitude impact others in her life?

• Do you agree with Alice's assessment that she is a lucky person?

Cite examples from the book in your response.

(see the answer keys)

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