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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. Whose home does Mary think "signifies society's ideas about status, education, and family"?

2. How many faculty members worked below Mary at the college where she once worked?

3. In what way does Mary describe women who are multi-taskers?

4. According to Mary, what societal role is care taking usually assigned to?

5. Why does Johnnetta have to look herself in the mirror every morning to remind herself of her new identity?

Short Essay Questions

1. Historically, what members of society usually take the role of caretakers?

2. At what times in their lives did Alice and Johnnetta most remember sharing, particularly food?

3. What leads Mary to the statement that all five of the women profiled in the book are "idealists"?

4. What is Mary's definition of wisdom?

5. What is the main difference between men and women in regards to "multiple lives"?

6. In what way does Mary compare caretaking to music?

7. Why didn't Mary ever become president of Amherst University?

8. How does Johnnetta feel about the need to divide her time between her private and personal lives?

9. How did Mary's views about discontinuity change as she completed this book?

10. What prompted Mary's identity crisis after high school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, Bateson struggles to balance her definitions of marriage and partnership, particularly in relation to societal definitions of the same relationships. First, describe Bateson's definition of a perfect marriage. How does this marriage compare/contrast to Bateson's definition of a perfect partnership? In your opinion, is it possible to have both a perfect marriage and perfect partnership by Bateman's definitions? Why or why not? Finally, compare/contrast Bateman's definition of marriage with society's definition of marriage. In your opinion, will these two definitions ever merge? Why or why not? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Alice is one of the key women whose relationship is a focal point of the book. First, describe Alice's relationship with Jack: how did they meet? What was their courting process like? In your opinion, what was the biggest strain on Alice's relationship with Jack? Why was Alice hesitant to take her relationship with Jack to the next level? Finally, describe how Alice's life was changed when Jack moved in with her, and how she coped with her lonely life after Jack's death. What do all these elements tell the reader about Alice herself, and about Bateson's opinion of marriage and partnership? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

When discussing ugliness and pain, Mary often uses the metaphor of art to make her point about "composing a life". First, discuss Mary's analogy of art and masterpieces, particularly in relation to ugliness. Then, explain at least two characteristics one must have in order to be considered an "artist" in their own lives. Finally, explain whether or not you agree with Mary's advice to the "artists" in the world, and why. Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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