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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. Where does Valeria's aunt live?

2. Where was the war that broke out right after Valeria's birth?

3. Who does Valeria urge to advise Mirella on her relationship with Sandro?

4. What does Valeria say to herself when she does not phone Guido?

5. What does Mirella show Valeria, when she calls her mother to her room?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why, thinks Valeria, can Michele not really see her anymore?

3. Why does Valeria not like Marina?

4. How has Michele's opinion of Clara changed?

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

6. When does Valeria think her anxiety started? What does she attribute it to?

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

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

9. What personal checks does the director ask Valeria to deal with, and how does she react?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the idea of friendship in the novel. What does the book teach its readers about friendship, its value, and its limitations?

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

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?

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This section contains 697 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample