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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 1995 when Daniel watched Elisabeth, where did they walk?

2. What does Daniel find in Part 1 when he thinks about making clothes from leaves?

3. In Part 2 when Daniel leaves the courtroom and stands in the yard of the girl he loves, but who married someone else, what is the weather like?

4. In Part 2, what was a film production unit filming?

5. When Daniel imagines being in a courtroom, what is the name of the woman who is a prostitute and who is testifying?

Short Essay Questions

1. In pages 41-42, what does a care assistant tell Elisabeth about Daniel?

2. In 1993, what did Daniel tell Elisabeth about his name?

3. In pages 53-57, when Elisabeth and Wendy go for a walk and find a fence blocking the way, what does Wendy say that she is tired of?

4. In 59-61, what are the feelings across the country after the Brexit vote?

5. When Elisabeth nods off when she is visiting Daniel, what does she see in her dream in pages 37-40?

6. In pages 1-52, what does Elisabeth discover when she goes to visit Daniel, and what does she do while she sits with him?

7. In 1993, why did Elisabeth want to talk to Daniel when he was her neighbor?

8. How did Elisabeth's mother embarrass her in 1993?

9. What incident is described that took place in September 1943?

10. When Elisabeth was 13, what did Wendy decide about Elisabeth's relationship with Daniel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are some melancholy things that Elisabeth enjoys doing? What is communicated about nostalgia and melancholy through the things that Elisabeth likes to do?

Essay Topic 2

Twice in the novel the phrase “it was the worst of times” is used in the novel. How does Smith use the phrase to highlight her disapproval of British conservatives and the pro-Brexit movement? What else does she criticize when she uses that phrase? What does she reveal about the reactions to Brexit and populism? In what way does the novel reveal that Smith believes it to be the worst of times?

Essay Topic 3

After the Brexit vote, why was rejoicing and there was misery? How are people and the country divided? How does Brexit symbolize division?

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This section contains 973 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample