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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. Who is upset about some of the things that Nonna often gives to Alice?

2. Where does Mother live after she checks out of the San?

3. What is Alice's main feeling, as expressed in Part One, about being orphaned?

4. Why does Miss O'Boyle say that Nonna 's eyes are almost always open, wet and watching?

5. What is true about Nonna?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Alice compare Walter and Father?

2. Why do Aunt Frances and Arlette take charge of unpacking Mother's things?

3. Does Alice want to be like her mother?

4. Describe Alice's friendship with Arthur.

5. Who are the primary influences in Alice's life when she is 15?

6. How would you describe Mother's relationships with men?

7. How does Arthur help to form an image of Mother?

8. Is Uncle Billy satisfied with his life?

9. Describe Walter's departure.

10. Does Alice like living in Tuscon?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many characters in Florida seem to act the way they do because of painful experiences in their lives. Select three of the following characters. For each, describe the pain that leads them to act and behave in the manner they do and analyze the amount of power they have to choose differently: Mother, Alice, Walter, Nonna, Uncle Billy, the Unreliables.

Essay Topic 2

Does a setting create a character's experience or does a character impact and create parts of their setting? Using specific examples from the story, analyze the impact of setting on Alice in Florida.

Essay Topic 3

Explain how the following events contributed to Alice's coming of age in the novel.

1) Mother going to the San.

2) Moving to the Big House.

3) Arthur's death.

(see the answer keys)

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