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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 did Maurice use the money he had borrowed from Laura at Christmas to purchase?

2. What did Michael name his 36-foot Grand Banks trawler?

3. Who is Annette's husband?

4. How old was Laura when her father broke three of her mother's ribs when beating her?

5. In what month did Laura marry Michael?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where did Maurice spend Christmas the year before he met Laura? What did he receive?

2. What did Laura get for Maurice on their first Christmas together?

3. Why did Maurice stay out of touch with Laura for several years?

4. How did Maurice's parents die? How did their deaths impact him?

5. How did Laura respond when she learned of Maurice's first child? Why?

6. What does Maurice relate in his letter in the end of the book?

7. What does the jug of spare change represent symbolically?

8. Why did Laura take Maurice to her sister Annette's house? Where did Annette live?

9. What was the first decent job that Maurice obtained after he had become homeless?

10. How does Laura describe her first Thanksgiving with Maurice?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Laura's parents. What was their heritage? Where did they live? What did Laura's mother and father do for a living? What were the family finances like?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the ethical questions of Laura's friendship with Maurice. Why did Laura's coworkers and friends worry about their friendship? Were these concerns valid? What are your impressions of the friendship between Laura and Maurice?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss Darcella. Where was Darcella born? What was her family like growing up? What led Darcella to a life of drugs? How did Darcella die?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 680 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample