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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. Aside from her age, in what ways does Marie feel she is different from other women Amir had dated?

2. Why did Marie shake her head when Amir tried to push her onto the motel room bed?

3. Where did Marie's husband work before his recent retirement?

4. What is Marie's husband doing when she returns home after her last day of work?

5. How long does it take for Marie to clean on her last day of work?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Marie learn where Evie lives and works? What does she do when she finds out?

2. How does the author describe the way Marie's work has damaged her hands and arms?

3. How old is Marie when she retires? What "peculiar honor" (8) does her boss give to her on her last day?

4. How much money does Marie earn in her final paycheck? How is this money received? How many weeks of work does her final pay cover? What happens when she gets to her car?

5. How is Marie's body impacted by her work over the years?

6. When describing Marie's body aches and pains from her work, what are some indications of her social status?

7. Who is Amir? What is Marie's relationship with Amir?

8. What does Father James tell Marie about Amir and her relationship with him?

9. How are some of the women Marie worked with over the years described? How did Marie feel about these women?

10. How does Marie feel about Evie's move? What does she keep as a memory of her friend?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss elements of the narrative structure: Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express its themes?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about why Marie stays at the motel for so long when so many others have come and gone over the years.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay exploring the significance of Marie's affair with Amir. How does she handle the affair? What are her feelings after the affair? How does the affair impact the plot?

(see the answer keys)

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