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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. What does Marie clean in the motel room on her final day of work that does not often get cleaned?

3. What is the final thing Marie cleans in the motel room on her last day of work?

4. How old is Amir when he has an affair with Marie?

5. What did Marie believe about the Italian woman she worked with who had to be taught how to use a vacuum?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. 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?

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

5. What does Marie say to Father James about her job in the section following the description of how her body has been impacted by her job? What does he say in response?

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

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

8. How did Marie feel about her affair with Amir in the following years? How did Marie feel about the fact that she never cheated on her husband again?

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

10. Why does Marie want to work a full shift on her last day? What does she want to do for herself?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay examining the ending of "Clean, Cleaner, Cleanest." How does the ending fit into the storyline? Do you think the ending is effective? What theme might the ending represent? What might the author have done differently?

Essay Topic 2

Genre is a category assigned to a literary work, like a novel. What are some genres that could be used to classify this story? What is the main genre of the story? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay discussing the setting of "Clean, Cleaner, Cleanest." In what ways does the setting impact your understanding of the story as well as develop the theme of transience?

(see the answer keys)

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