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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 Lauren extend to Philip?

2. What is Lauren surprised to learn about her work at Sinco?

3. What does Nick tell Lauren about his mother?

4. What happens when Lauren is forced to work with Nick on a project?

5. What does Lauren think is Nick's job?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Lauren pleasantly surprised by her time at the Whitworth home?

2. Describe the interaction between Laura and Nick at the construction site.

3. Why can Lauren not avoid Nick even though she wants nothing more to do with him?

4. What does Lauren recall about the Whitworths as she drives to their home for dinner?

5. How does the author show that Nick might be truly interested in Lauren?

6. How does the author use foreshadowing when establishing Tony as a friend for Lauren?

7. What does Nick reveal to Lauren about his childhood?

8. How does Laura's behavior reveal that she is unaware of Nick's role at the company?

9. What decision does Lauren make about spying for Philip and how does she sabotage her job interview at Sinco?

10. How are Nick and Lauren's feelings at opposite ends of the spectrum after they spend the night together?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of women in business in the late-20th century when the women in the novel are living their lives. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do the have? What freedoms did they enjoy that 19th-century women did not have?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the overall setting for the book. Why does McNaught use the setting she does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

Essay Topic 3

Explain McNaught's use of humor in the story. Cite examples of at least two different instances of humor and explain why the author used them where she did.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,147 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample