View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chapter 6, who is Alex's ex-husband?

2. In Chapter 2, where does Alex live?

3. In Chapter 3, who does Gary always want to talk to when he sees this person is calling his phone?

4. In Chapter 9, how does Gary react to an affectionate couple nearby?

5. In Chapter 5, who does Corey live with?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 5, what is unusual about Corey's living situation?

2. In Chapter 3, when does Gary realize that something might be seriously wrong in his family?

3. In Chapter 6, what is Sadie upset about concerning her father?

4. In Chapter 2, why is Alex oddly exhilarated by the news of her father's grave illness?

5. In Chapter 11, what does Alex remember about her mother Barbra's life-long approach to food?

6. In Chapter 8, why does Twyla have a Bible in Victor's hospital room?

7. In Chapter 12, what prompts Barbra to break off her engagement with Bernie?

8. In Chapter 12, what does Carver regret?

9. In Chapter 6, what does Alex think is different about Twyla?

10. In Chapter 12, what does Barbra remember the most about her own father?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Victor Tuchman is a thoroughly villainous and despicable character. Do you think Attenberg gives the reader any sense of any positive aspects of Victor's character whatsoever? Is Victor ultimately a believable and realistic character? Write an essay explaining your answer, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

How does Attenberg use the fact of the infidelity between Twyla and Victor to help sustain suspense at different points in the novel? Write an essay explaining your answer.

Essay Topic 3

At the end of the novel, what do you think Attenberg attempts to convey about the Tuchman family dynamic and relationships through the growing closeness and reconciliation between Avery and Sadie? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 626 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample