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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. Where does Linda go to talk to a lawyer in the end of Chapter 3, "Cracked"?

2. Where is Charlie's home in Chapter 4, "The Hit-Thumb Theory"?

3. What does the narrator say you never get used to "no matter what anyone says about it" in Chapter 4, "The Hit-Thumb Theory" (114)?

4. Where did Angelina's mother go to be with a younger man when she was 74?

5. What caused the fire on Tommy Guptill's farm?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How is the setting of Linda and Jay's home described in Chapter 3, "Cracked"?

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

4. What setting is featured in the ending of Chapter 4, "The Hit-Thumb Theory"? Why is this significant?

5. What losses have Karen-Lucie and Joy experienced in Chapter 3, "Cracked"?

6. Why does Pete Barton ask Tommy to stop coming to see him? How does Tommy respond?

7. In what setting does Chapter 4, "The Hit-Thumb Theory" begin? What mood does the setting evoke?

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

9. How would you describe Patty Nicely's character?

10. Describe the narrative style of Chapter 2, "Windmills."

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the story "Cracked," the narrative shifts focus between more than one character. Why do you think this story differs from many of the others in this way? What does this reveal about the characters in the story? How does this narrative style influence the story's themes?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the character of Tommy Guptill in the novel. What are Tommy's actions, objectives, and obstacles in "The Sign"? How would you describe Tommy's outlook in life? Where does he live? How old is he?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the character of Lucy Barton in Anything Is Possible. How is Lucy's character further explored than in the previous novel, My Name is Lucy Barton? How does Lucy feel about her past and her family? What happens when she appears in "Sister"?

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