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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 illness does Rudy claim to have in chapter 20?

2. What does Striker mark N/A on his job application in chapter 20?

3. What does Striker hear as he continues to walk to Aloha Lanes at the end of chapter 22?

4. What does Michael notice is a pattern in Gina's art?

5. How long does Striker promise in chapter 20 to remain at his new job should he be hired?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Michael leave his daughter and go in search of his missing wife in chapter 19?

2. How does Wanda's knowledge of her parents' relationship compare with what Striker has revealed to the reader in part two of the novel?

3. In the beginning of Part Two, how does the narration change?

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

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

6. How does Striker celebrate Easter in chapter 22?

7. What symbolic item is mentioned in chapter 18 that is related to a similar item symbolically important to Wanda Schultz?

8. Why is Michael forced to quit college after marrying Gina?

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

10. What car accident does Striker witness in chapter 22? How is this ironic?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Stephen? How does Margaret feel about him? Why did their relationship end? What was the cause? What role does Stephen play in Margaret's life now? What is Margaret's reaction when the doctor wants to call Stephen upon learning of Margaret's brain tumor? Why does Stephen's new wife call Margaret later in the novel? What does she want? What does she threaten to tell Stephen? How does Margaret react to the threat? What does Stephen say to Margaret after this threat is made good?

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

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?

(see the answer keys)

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