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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 Clara offer Valeria after lunch?

2. Why does Valeria conclude that she cannot do anything for Riccardo?

3. What did Valeria do that used to annoy the director?

4. What does Michele do after drying Valeria's eyes with his handkerchief?

5. Whose large picture is on Valeria's bedroom wall?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Guido and Valeria's walk to San Carlo church.

2. When the children's friends visit, how do they respond to Valeria?

3. In his letters from Africa, what plans did Michele propose?

4. What does Valeria say when Michele expresses worry that the threat of war will make the movie producers afraid?

5. How does Mirella respond when Valeria asks her to bring Riccardo his eggs?

6. What does Valeria remember happening one night when she sat up late with Mirella when she was little?

7. How does Michele reply when Valeria points out to him that Mirella still is not home?

8. Why does Mirella say she would like to hear that Valeria enjoys her work?

9. What is the film about, that Michele and Valeria see together?

10. Why does Sandro say it is hard for Valeria to understand her daughter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the significance of Valeria's decision to burn her notebook at the end of the novel? What does this decision tell us about her and what the notebook means for her?

Essay Topic 2

What does it mean to be strong within the context of the novel? Aside from Valeria's thought's on the matter, analyze the words and actions of the other characters and discuss the different understandings of strength.

Essay Topic 3

Other than the notebook, what do you think is the defining symbol of the novel? Use textual evidence to discuss and support your choice.

(see the answer keys)

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