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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Ethan makes Mattie uncomfortable when he mentions __________________________________.
(a) Ruth and Ned kissing behind the trees.
(b) Her clumsiness with the pickle dish.
(c) How beautiful she looks under the lamp.
(d) Denis Eady coming to visit her at the house.

2. Mattie Silver has lived with the Fromes for _______________.
(a) Six months.
(b) One month.
(c) A year.
(d) Five years.

3. Ethan feels too constrained to try to touch Mattie inside the house because ____________________________________________.
(a) The house has too many implications of order and conformity.
(b) The house reminds him of his wedding day.
(c) The house seems to store up guilt and confessions.
(d) The house has too many happy memories of Zeena.

4. Since the previous night, Ethan feels a sense of _______________.
(a) Fear.
(b) Euphoria.
(c) Contentment.
(d) Dread.

5. Zeena's family gave Mattie ____________________________.
(a) Plenty of help, but she rejected them.
(b) Plenty of advice but little help.
(c) Money to start a new life for herself.
(d) Plenty of money and advice.

6. Ethan is please to find that ______________________________.
(a) He can marry Mattie when Zeena dies.
(b) He can tell Mattie of his troubles with Zeena.
(c) He can leave Mattie to take care of herself.
(d) He can share some of his passions with Mattie.

7. As he travels to town, Ethan dreams about ______________________________.
(a) Spending his evening with Mattie like a married couple.
(b) His mother's presence in his home.
(c) Spending his evening waiting for Zeena to arrive.
(d) Zeena's illness and death.

8. Who almost runs into the elm when sledding?
(a) Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hale.
(b) Zeena and Ethan Frome.
(c) Mattie Silver and Denis Eady.
(d) Ned Hale and Ruth Varnum.

9. Zeena asks Ethan if Jotham Powell can _________________________.
(a) Accompany her to the doctor's office.
(b) Bring the lumber to Mr. Hale.
(c) Drive her to the train station.
(d) Drive her to Michael Eady's store.

10. Why is Zeena still awake when Ethan and Mattie arrive at home?
(a) She claims she felt so mean she could not sleep.
(b) She claims she was too cold to sleep.
(c) She claims she was jealous of Mattie and Ethan.
(d) She claims she was worried about them in the storm.

11. Zeena's family is offended by Mattie's father because _______________________________________.
(a) He moved to Connecticut and got an education.
(b) He moved west during the Gold Rush.
(c) He moved to Connecticut and became financially successful.
(d) He moved away from the hills and never spoke to them again.

12. Lying in bed the previous night, Ethan regretted __________________________.
(a) Getting caught holding Mattie when Zeena opened the door.
(b) Kissing Mattie.
(c) Not leaving Zeena long ago.
(d) Not kissing Mattie.

13. Ethan now sees the cemetery as ____________________________.
(a) The promise of continuance and stability.
(b) The threat of death.
(c) The promise of excitement and the unknown.
(d) The threat of stagnancy.

14. What spark in Ethan had not been completely extinguished by the Starkfield winters?
(a) A spark of life.
(b) A spark of industry.
(c) A spark of curiosity.
(d) A spark of sociability.

15. Wharton compares the darkened farmhouses to ________________.
(a) Sanctuaries.
(b) Gravestones.
(c) Hospitals.
(d) Haunted houses.

Short Answer Questions

1. Ethan asks Mattie to sit in Zeena's chair because _____________________________.

2. Zeena believes Mattie will leave soon because ______________________________.

3. How is the pickle dish broken?

4. Ethan does his clearest thinking while _______________________________.

5. Ethan tries to avoid accompanying his wife to bed by claiming ________________________________.

(see the answer keys)

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