View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Valeria's mother used to say about Michele, when they were engaged?

2. Along with the red coat and tartan skirt, what does Valeria buy for Mirella?

3. What does Mirella say that Riccardo keeps in his locked drawer?

4. What does Valeria realize when she is reading her old letters to Michele?

5. What does Valeria spend money on after looking at the precious stones?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Michele react to the gossip about Mirella?

2. When Valeria had trouble with Michele early in her marriage, what would her mother do?

3. After hearing about Mirella being seen coming out of Sandro's building, what does Valeria read about in the paper?

4. How does Valeria react when kissed or complimented in front of the children? How do her children react?

5. What is Michele's father like? How does he behave on Mirella's birthday?

6. How does Valeria's family react when she says she might keep a diary?

7. What does Valeria buy for Mirella and Riccardo with Christmas Eve in mind?

8. What is Valeria called by the other characters?

9. What does Valeria think would happen if she let her family know that she had taken a quick nap or gone for a walk?

10. Why would the notebook be taken from Valeria if the family found it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the theme of sacrifice in the novel. Select three different characters and explain how their experiences express this theme.

Essay Topic 2

What is the role of Valeria's mother in the novel? Using specific examples from the text, show the author's intent behind this character.

Essay Topic 3

Explore the figure of the mother-in-law in the novel. How is this figure depicted in Valeria's memories of her own mother-in-law and in her relationship with Marina?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 694 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample