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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. Who does Veronica threaten to move in with if her mother makes her attend the ball?

2. What does Olympia send to The Arches?

3. Which sports does Charlie play in college?

4. Where is the family going for Christmas vacation?

5. What does Chauncey want Charlie to do after graduation?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Harry and Olympia meet?

2. What are the reasons that Veronica finally agrees to go to the ball?

3. What are Charlie options for post graduation plans?

4. Why is it unusual for Olympia to invite Frieda and Margaret to the ball?

5. What does Chauncey threaten to do if Veronica refuses to attend the ball?

6. Why is Olympia so surprised about how pleasant Chauncey is during their phone conversation in Chapter 4?

7. How is Harry different than Olympia's previous husband, Chauncey?

8. How do the twins react to hearing about The Arches invitation?

9. Why does Charlie want to meet Veronica's escort?

10. What is Virginia's big news?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Olympia has high expectations for her children, but also shows each of them unconditional love. What makes Olympia a good parent? What makes her a good wife?

Essay Topic 2

The author tries to paint Olympia as a character who has a "perfect" life. Do you think Olympia has a perfect life? Explain your reasoning using details from the book.

Essay Topic 3

Harry and Chauncey are very different characters. Compare and contrast them using examples from the book.

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