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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. Who does Cindy think has a crush on Beth?

2. What is the source of the noises that Beth hears near the living room windows?

3. What does Robert do for the first time in his life in this section?

4. What happens during an intimate moment between Beth and Mike?

5. Who drives Beth and Robert home after Christmas dinner?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Beth respond when Patty Bancroft insists that Beth and Robert move after the television news broadcast?

2. Why do Beth and Robert end up having Thanksgiving dinner by themselves?

3. How do Beth and Robert react when they learn that several New York police officers have been killed?

4. What is the first slip that Beth makes in possibly revealing her former identity?

5. When does Frannie realize that she needs to enlist Patty Bancroft's help to escape from Bobby?

6. What does Robert admit to Beth for the first time as they have Thanksgiving dinner?

7. What prevents Beth from becoming too intimate with Mike?

8. What is the story of how Mr. and Mrs. Levitt met?

9. What does Beth reveal to Cindy regarding another relationship with a man when they are at the beauty salon?

10. What does Beth do on Christmas night instead of calling Grace like she wants to do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of women in America in the 1990s when the women in the novel are living their lives. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century women do not?

Essay Topic 2

Loss is an important theme in BLACK AND BLUE. Can you cite an example to support this theme? Name two other themes and cite examples 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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,145 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample