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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. According to Calvin, Alice believes which one of the following statements to be true?

2. In chapter six, what does a carpenter named Frank tell Alice during her home renovation project?

3. What is Alice's Law of Compensatory Cash Flow?

4. Which woman serve as a personal and professional mentor to Alice?

5. According to Trillin, what does Alice want him to do with the money he saves during college?

Short Essay Questions

1. True or false: Alice shies away from taboo subjects. Explain your answer.

2. What is Alice's attitude toward spending money?

3. In what ways are Calvin Trillin and Alice lucky?

4. According to Calvin Trillin, what makes a person an intellectual?

5. Describe the Trillins' trip to Japan. What does their disagreement say about their marriage?

6. In chapter four, do you think Calvin Trillin is wise to not to take the advice of his colleague?

7. Does Alice ever exercise restraint when it comes to controversial subjects?

8. Why does Alice think that marrying Calvin Trillin means she has to live a modest lifestyle?

9. What is Alice's attitude toward cigarettes?

10. What is the SEEK program? Why is it important to Alice?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay explaining the secret that Alice learns from a little girl named L. at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. What special meaning does this lesson carry for Alice? In what ways is L. similar to Alice in the way she lives her life? Cite examples from the book in your response.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay in which you discuss the Trillin family mottos of "Pull Up Your Socks" and "No Kvetching". What do these mottos say about their values? In what ways does Alice live her life in accordance with these mottos?

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)

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