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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. What is Larry doing at the beginning of Part 3: Chapter 4?

2. What are Larry and Sally doing as the chapter begins?

3. Why is Charity impatient with Sid?

4. What has Charity selected for Sid?

5. What does Charity have trouble cooking for the group?

Short Essay Questions

1. How has the necessity for rescue changed between the two couples?

2. How is Charity managing her illness?

3. How do the Charity, Sid and Sally remain in character when facing Charity's imminent death?

4. How does the theme of rescue extend in Part 2: Chapter 2?

5. Explain the metaphor of Adam and Eve used throughout the novel.

6. Although Larry and Sally never had the advantages or financial ease that Sid and Charity did, they seem to have a better marriage. Explain how the author reveals this.

7. Why does Sid not want to go on the family picnic?

8. What happens to the relationship between the Morgans and the Langs during World War II?

9. What is the situation the characters find themselves in when the novel returns to the present day in 1972?

10. Why is this chapter the climax of the book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the state of Sid's barn wood shop and home office. How does the state of his rooms mirror the state of his spirit? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Larry's job loss is an opportunity for Charity to work her connections to find him a job. Why is Larry open to Charity's help when her own husband rejects all her attempts to further his career? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

The author begins the story in the present day and tells the story through a series of flashbacks. Why did he choose to tell his story this way? In what way is a flashback technique more interesting for a reader? In what ways is it more complicated?

(see the answer keys)

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