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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. Beth wonders about what as she settles into her new life?

2. What last name will Frannie and Robert now have?

3. Who is Robert?

4. Who died shortly after Bobby and Frannie married?

5. What will Robert's new name be?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Beth begin to feel about Mike as their friendship deepens?

2. Who does Robert befriend as soon as they move into the duplex?

3. Where is Beth and Robert's new home located and of what does it remind Beth?

4. How does Frannie first encounter Patty Bancroft?

5. What is Frannie's new identity?

6. What is the nature of Beth's encounter with Mike Riordan in the grocery store?

7. What made Frannie start to entertain the idea of leaving her husband?

8. What details does Beth have to drill into Robert prior to his going to school?

9. Why is Robert asked to leave the grocery store?

10. Were there ever any good moments in Frannie's marriage to Bobby?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the ongoing conflict between Frannie and Bobby. What are the main sources of the conflict? Why does it perpetuate? What does Beth learn about the reality of her life with Bobby as opposed to the perceptions she had held for so long?

Essay Topic 2

Does Quindlen end the story on a note of hope for Beth or the continuance of her struggle to come to terms with her flawed relationship with Bobby? Give your perspective and two reasons to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

What is the primary setting for the novel? Be sure to include geography, time period and any pertinent popular culture events. Why did Quindlen choose to use this place in the novel?

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This section contains 887 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample