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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. In Calvin's second poem in chapter three, he likens Alice to which of the following?
2. When does Calvin read the obituary of Dick Francis' wife?
3. In chapter one, Calvin includes an excerpt from a letter that Alice writes to a woman who is victimized. What Shakespeare play does she reference in her letter?
4. What is the headline in the magazine article in which Alice is featured as a model at the age of thirty-five?
5. Calvin claims that the first time he sees Alice, he detects what quality about her heritage?
Short Essay Questions
1. Does Alice believe she is accurately portrayed in Trillin's books and articles? Briefly describe why or why not.
2. What is one positive quality that Alice inherits from her father? Why do you think this quality is especially beneficial to Alice?
3. In what ways are Alice's looks, coupled with the superficial facts about her background, misleading?
4. In chapter three, why does Alice accept the request to be photographed in a fashion issue of a magazine?
5. Describe Calvin Trillin's father-in-law.
6. 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?
7. Calvin Trillin states that from the day he meets Alice, he never stops trying to impress her. Why?
8. 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?
9. What are some of the adversities Alice faces throughout her life?
10. In chapter three, Calvin Trillin explains that Alice's role as caretaker to her parents has a positive impact on her life. How?
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
Do you agree with Trillin's definition of an intellectual in About Alice? Why or why not?
Part 1) According to Trillin, in what ways is Alice an intellectual?
Part 2) Does Trillin believe he is intellectually superior to Alice? Why or why not?
Include specific references to the book to support your essay.
Essay Topic 3
Does Alice believe she is accurately portrayed in Trillin's books and articles?
• Compare and contrast Trillin's portrayal of his wife in About Alice to the character in his previous works.
• Include specific examples of Alice's real-life qualities, as provided in the memoir.
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This section contains 1,081 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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