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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 Chapter 15, who is the drama teacher who takes Twyla under his wing?

2. In Chapter 18, where did Alex go to law school?

3. In Chapter 22, what does Twyla think to herself before Gary comes downstairs for breakfast?

4. In Chapter 19, what does Victor tell Twyla he has that Barbra does not know about?

5. In Chapter 15, who do Twyla and Gary see in Twyla's home town that they realize is a mutual acquaintance?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 19, how does Twyla explain to herself her willingness to go along with Victor's sexual advances?

2. In Chapter 15, what work does Twyla do professionally?

3. In Chapter 19, why does Twyla think Victor takes her to the casinos?

4. In Chapter 16, what does Alex do when she sees a fight happening in public between a man and a woman?

5. In Chapter 21, what last secret of Victor's did Barbra know about?

6. In Chapter 14, what does Sierra do behind her husband's back?

7. In Chapter 20, what does Gary tell Alex when Alex finally gets in touch with him on the phone?

8. In Chapter 18, what activity involving her home is Barbra known for?

9. In Chapter 22, what does Gary tell Twyla she must come clean with him about in order to have a chance of saving their relationship?

10. In Chapter 21, what does Barbra decide to do about Victor's funeral?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does Twyla's family farm in Alabama symbolize for her, and how is the way she feels on the farm different from how she feels in either Los Angeles or New Orleans? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

How is Gary's deception and secrets from Twyla, revealed only at the close of the novel, different from his father Victor's lies and infidelities? Write an essay explaining your answer, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

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