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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 did Michele describe as a saint?

2. What does Valeria learn about Sandro from Guido?

3. Where did Sandro first meet his wife?

4. What does Valeria rediscover in Michele's old letters?

5. What does Valeria order at the café with Guido?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Clara say about working women?

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

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

6. What does Clara, who has always said she cannot live without love, now say about it?

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

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

9. What does Clara tell Valeria about Michele's film?

10. Why does Valeria not like Marina?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What role does secrecy play in the novel? Examine the effect of secrets on the characters' relationships and the larger story.

Essay Topic 2

Examine the ideas of generational difference that are expressed in the novel. Discuss them in detail, explaining how they are demonstrated within the plot.

Essay Topic 3

Examine the importance of clothing in the novel. Choose 1-3 examples and discuss their significance within the story.

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This section contains 698 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample