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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 upcoming event that Marilyn Macauley is trying on a dress for in the shop in Chapter 1, "The Sign"?

2. What is the hope within Charlie compared to in the end of Chapter 4, "The Hit-Thumb Theory"?

3. Who comes to clean Patty's mother's home twice a week?

4. What was Sebastian's profession?

5. What does Patty have the sensation of having in her mouth after reading the memoir in Chapter 2, "Windmills"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Lila Lane? What can be observed of her character by her first interaction with Patty in Chapter 2, "Windmills"?

2. What is the meaning of the title of Chapter 1, "The Sign"? To what does the "Sign" refer?

3. Who is Pete Barton? Where does he live?

4. How was Patty Nicely's life affected by her mother's actions when she was in school?

5. Where did Tommy Guptill move his family after losing the farm? How did this impact the family?

6. What does the "Sewing and Alterations" sign symbolize in Chapter 1, "The Sign"?

7. What do the crocus bulbs symbolize in Chapter 4, "The Hit-Thumb Theory"?

8. What are Tracy's actions, objectives, and obstacles in Chapter 4, "The Hit-Thumb Theory"?

9. How is the theme of class differences explored in Chapter 3, "Cracked"?

10. Why does Tommy feel upset in the end of Chapter 1, "The Sign"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the plot structure of Anything Is Possible as a whole and in segments. How is each story structured? Is there a clear beginning, middle, and end? How does this style of narrative develop as a larger work and does this novel as a whole follow traditional plot development?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the characters of Lucy Barton and Annie Appleby in Anything Is Possible. How are these characters similar in their current lives? How would you compare their backstories? What does each of these characters symbolize?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's use of irony in Anything Is Possible. What are examples of verbal irony in the stories of the collection? What situational irony appears in these stories? What are examples of dramatic irony, particularly in the story "Cracked"?

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This section contains 825 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample