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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. What is the name of the camp where Alice volunteers to work with seriously ill children?

2. How old are Alice's daughters when she has her first surgery following her cancer diagnosis?

3. Which of the following best describes "Of Dragons and Garden Peas"?

4. What is one of Alice's pet peeves?

5. Where does Calvin and Alice purchase their first home?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. Explain the Alice Tax.

6. In chapter five, following Alice's bypass operation, what warning does Alice's surgeon give Calvin Trillin?

7. Describe what Alice means when she says that someone "doesn't have a nice life."

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

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

10. What is Alice's attitude toward cigarettes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write the following essay from the first person point of view of Alice Trillin.

Part 1) Discuss your views on social activism.

Part 2) Why do you care so much about certain causes? Give a list of the ones that mean the most to you, and how you go about pursuing these causes.

Part 3) What do you hope to instill in your daughters through your social activism?

Part 4) What is wrong about being passive?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Write about the messages in this memoir about parenting.

Part 1) Does Calvin Trillin agree with his wife Alice about the importance of attending their children's school plays and eating dinner together? Why or why not?

Part 2) To what extent does Alice's parenting style differ from that of her husband?

Part 3) Why does Trilllin spend so much time on the subject of parenting in About Alice?

Part 4) Trillin provides brief glimpses into the points of view of Abigail and Sarah. What do their statements say about the parenting they receive?

Cite examples from the book in your response.

(see the answer keys)

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