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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 long has Michael been searching for his wife, as mentioned in chapter 20?

2. What language does Irma sing in prior to beginning dinner in chapter 21?

3. What were Irma and her daughter doing the day the Germans came and took them away?

4. Who shows Striker where to find Irma's hair dye kit in chapter 21?

5. How does the author suggest meeting in a bowling alley is a good metaphor for Micheal's relationship with Gina?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Striker see in the street in chapter 22? How does this make Striker feel?

2. What picture does Striker have of his wife and how does this connect him with Wanda Schultz?

3. What story does Irma Kosminsky tell Striker over dinner in chapter 21?

4. What happens soon after the dinner Striker shares with Irma and her husband, Sammy?

5. How does the author draw parallels between Striker and Irma concerning their painful pasts?

6. What is Yeats and what does it stand for in Striker's life?

7. How do the Hawaiian shirts becomes something of a symbol between Striker and Irma in chapter 21?

8. How does the author draw parallels between Wanda Schultz and M.J. Striker in part two?

9. Who is M.J. Striker and why has he come to work at the Aloha Lanes bowling alley in chapter 20?

10. What character seems to tell Striker how he can pull Irma out of her depression in chapter 21?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Detective Tink Lorenzini? Why does Wanda insist on taking on this persona? For what purpose? Who is Troy? How does Troy react to Wanda's desire to find Peter? Why does Wanda rush across the street in chapter 16? Who did she think she saw? Who did she really see? What happens to Wanda? Why does she refuse to speak after her recovery has begun? What does this say about Wanda's state of mind? How does this impact the people around her?

Essay Topic 2

How does Margaret meet Gus McPherson? What role does Gus play in Margaret's life? What gift does Margaret make to Wanda in chapter 12? What does this say about their changing relationship? Why does Margaret suddenly begin making friends and coming out of her reclusive lifestyle when she learns she is dying? What does this say about Margaret's character? Do Margaret's new friends know about her illness? Explain.

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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