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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 does Elaine feel about the boys?

2. Where do Elaine and her friends watch the Christmas parade from?

3. How long does Elaine stay home after being in the cold water?

4. What does Elaine try to do instead of playing with her friends?

5. What trick does Elaine begin using to get out of situations she doesn't like?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the last chapter, what does Elaine realize about the day she fell into the ravine?

2. How does Elaine feel when she visits the new school?

3. At the art retrospective, what does Elaine wish she could ask Cordelia?

4. Why doesn't Jon want to come to Elaine's art show?

5. What is Stephen worried about, when Elaine goes to high school?

6. What does Carol tell all the other children about Elaine?

7. What does Elaine imagine will happen the day a famous figure is scheduled to come down her street in Toronto?

8. What is Elaine's attitude about sleeping with her ex-husband, Jon?

9. How does Elaine feel toward her ex-husband when she meets him again?

10. Describe how Elaine and Cordelia are different in biology class.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the significance of Elaine's art retrospective.

1) How does the art retrospective make Elaine look back on her life? How is her artwork related to the progression of her life?

2) How does Elaine feel about the art retrospective, and why does she feel this way? How does she feel about her paintings and about her career as an artist?

3) Why does Elaine want her pictures presented chronologically?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the portrayal of men in the book.

1) How are Elaine's lovers, Josef, Jon, and Ben, portrayed in the book? What is Elaine's attitude toward her lovers?

2) How do Elaine's relationships with men differ from her relationships with women? Why is Elaine more comfortable with men than with women?

3) How is Elaine's father portrayed in the book? How is her brother portrayed? How do her relationships with her father and brother affect her relationships with other men?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss criticism in the novel.

1) What does criticism of Elaine's art mean to her? How does she relate to the press and others that view and criticize her life and work as an artist?

2) What role does criticism play in Elaine's childhood relationship with Cordelia and her other friends? Where is the line between constructive criticism and abuse?

3) Why does Elaine become critical of others in high school? Why do Elaine and Cordelia spend their time criticizing others?

(see the answer keys)

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