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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. What does Cassandra rush to find in the attic that once belonged to Margaret?

2. How many children do the Schultzes have?

3. What is Creative Visualization?

4. What country does the valet at the Hotel Orleans say most guests feel they have visited after staying at the hotel?

5. What item does the author suggest you might pick up off a desk in the prologue?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened to Wanda's parents that caused her to live with her aunt and uncle?

2. Who does Wanda see on the street in front of a vintage record store? What happens after she sees this person?

3. Why do Margaret and Wanda begin breaking plates in chapter 13? What is the purpose?

4. What causes the decline of Stephen and Margaret's marriage?

5. For what reason does Margaret decide to invite another person to live in her house? What is this new roommate's profession?

6. Why does Margaret go to the Hotel Orleans in chapter 10? Who does she meet there?

7. Who does Margaret take to the opening night of Wanda's play? What does Margaret give to Wanda after the play is over?

8. What does Margaret begin seeing in chapter 8? What is this a symptom of?

9. What is significant about the day Margaret's mother died? What happens to Margaret in the aftermath of her mother's death?

10. Why does Wanda interview the clerk at a second hand record store? Who does she pretend to be?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Irma Kosminsky? How does she become acquainted with Michael? Why does Michael initially refuse to take her Hawaiian shirt? What happens to cause Michael to take the shirts after all? What is the nature of the relationship between Michael and Irma? Why does this relationship change the way in which Michael has recently been living his life? Is this a good change? Where does the reader suspect this relationship is headed? How does the author foreshadow the end of this relationship?

Essay Topic 2

What is the star? How has it changed Margaret's life? When does it begin to grow? Who does Margaret begin to see as the star begins to grow? How does Wanda react to news of Margaret's illness? How does Margaret feel about Wanda's reaction? How long does Margaret live after the star begins to grow? What happens to her house and her roommates after her death?

Essay Topic 3

How did Margaret's son die? How did this death impact Margaret's life? Why did she become a recluse? Why does Margaret treat the objects in her home as though they are alive and a part of her family? Where did some of these objects come from? How does this knowledge affect Margaret? What does Margaret eventually do with these items? How does this inspire Wanda to become a collage artist? How does this change Margaret and Wanda's lives?

(see the answer keys)

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