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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 does Norman say when Henny suggests he get rid of Hippolyte?

2. Who else arrives at the Tilson party that raises some eyebrows?

3. What does Shiela show Norman?

4. What does the Sending think of the island when he first sees it?

5. In Chapter 9, what does Norman hear as he drifts off to sleep for his before dinner nap?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the club suddenly have problems pumping water to the rooms?

2. What is the big disappointment for Norman and Iris about their planned excursion to Dingley Dell?

3. Why does it seem all eyes are on Iris when she arrives at the Tilson party?

4. What happens that may ruin the Tilson party if not for Lester's authoritative presence?

5. When Norman returns to the club after his visit with Miss Buckley, he realizes Esme is not at her post at the switchboard. Where is she?

6. What does Sheila finally do after the disaster with the cistern?

7. What does Chunky Collins tell Norman about his friend Lionel?

8. What is the difficulty Norman is having with Miss Buckley at the Immigrations Office in Chapter 9?

9. What does Norman find when he goes to the Pink Cottage to see why Iris does not come to the champagne party?

10. How do the guests seem to accept the free champagne party to make up for the water problems?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who are the main characters of the novel? Which other characters are vital to the story's plot? Who are they and what purpose did they serve to the story? Are there any disposable characters who could be removed from the plot without changing the story? Who are they? Give examples from the text to support your responses.

Essay Topic 2

In the opening pages the author provides an extensive history of the island of Amerigo. Does this history play into the story? For reasons of realism, is the history of this fictional island similar to the actual history of some real Caribbean islands? In what ways? Give examples from the text to support your responses.

Essay Topic 3

If you were to write a review of this novel what would you say about it? What aspects of the novel might be more favorable to different people? Give examples from the text to support your responses.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 903 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample