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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 was Alex able to afford the trip to New Orleans in Chapter 11?

2. In Chapter 13, what had Victor given Alex as a wedding gift?

3. In Chapter 13, what two lies does Alex tell her father?

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

5. What does Alex's ex-husband do for a living?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. In Chapter 11, what does Alex ask Barbra for in return for Barbra's request of Alex?

4. What unpleasant memory does Avery think of involving Victor in Chapter 4?

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

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

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

8. In Chapter 11, what does Alex think of her parents' move to New Orleans?

9. In Chapter 12, what activity does Barbra do daily and compulsively?

10. In Chapter 12, how does Barbra meet Victor for the first time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Barbra handle Victor's sustained physical and emotional abuse throughout their marriage? Write an essay explaining your answer, citing specific references to the text to help support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, Attenberg interjects the perspectives of ancillary characters observing main characters. Write an essay analyzing the effects of these interludes on the reader, citing specific examples to the text to help support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing how Attenberg uses dark humor - particularly related to death and dying - throughout the novel, particularly to lighten the tone of tense moments. Cite specific references to the text to help support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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