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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 long after Lomer died did Beverly stay with Fix?

2. In Chapter 3, how long do Beverly and the Cousins children wait at baggage claim before Beverly learns that they have no luggage?

3. In Chapter 1, what color dress is Beverly wearing?

4. In Chapter 4, how long has Fred worked the bar?

5. What is Leon Posen's room number in Chapter 4?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 3, what does Teresa think about Bert and his appearance?

2. What is Franny doing when she sees Leon Posen in Chapter 4?

3. Who is Dick Spencer?

4. Why does Franny want to know if Leon is staying at the hotel in Chapter 4?

5. How do the Cousins children feel about California?

6. In Chapter 2 what did Beverly ask Fix to do once for Albie and how did Fix help?

7. Where did Heinrich go to college and what did he study?

8. Who is in the kitchen when Fix returns with ice in Chapter 1?

9. Why does Cousins decide to attend the christening party in Chapter 1?

10. Why is Leon Posen staying in Iowa City in Chapter 4?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Cal dies while Beverly and the children are staying with Bert’s parents. What affect does the death have on the family and how does the death affect the Keating and Cousins families even years afterwards?

Essay Topic 2

The way that events are remembered is affected by point and view and also by the way that characters recall events. How does the retelling of Cal’s death demonstrate how point of view and character recall affect the way that events are remembered? What other events also demonstrate how point of view and character recall affect memory?

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 1, in many ways, Bert is the opposite of Fix. The way that the author portrays the two characters makes Bert a character foil to Fix. How does the author make Bert a foil to Fix and how does that characterization advance the plot?

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