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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 is Lucy related to Abel Blaine?

2. In Chapter 7, "Dottie's Bed and Breakfast," Dottie recalls going where to visit a distant relative when she was a child?

3. How many years has it been since Pete Barton has seen Lucy in Chapter 6, "Sister"?

4. Where does Lucy describe encountering Carol Darr in Chapter 6, "Sister"?

5. What does Angelina say the Pretty Nicely Girls were in Chapter 5, "Mississippi Mary"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What story from a Reader's Digest publication had an emotional impact on Dottie Blaine?

2. What does the lake house represent symbolically in Chapter 7, "Dottie's Bed and Breakfast"?

3. What does the tape recorder represent symbolically in Chapter 8, "Snow-Blind"?

4. What does Dottie tell Dr. Small as he checks out in Chapter 7, "Dottie's Bed and Breakfast"? How does he respond?

5. What is related of Tommy Guptill in Chapter 6, "Sister"?

6. How would you describe the relationship between Vicky and Lucy Barton?

7. What are the circumstances of Lucy's departure in Chapter 6, "Sister"?

8. How is the theme of social class explored in Chapter 7, "Dottie's Bed and Breakfast"?

9. Describe the narrative style in Chapter 6, "Sister."

10. What is the principle setting of Chapter 8, "Snow-Blind" and why is it significant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Discuss the theme of family in Anything Is Possible. How is family perceived by the different characters in each of the nine stories in the collection? What overall statement do you think the author is making regarding family?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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