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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 happened to Averill when she flew June's body home to Canada?

2. From what profession is Austin retired?

3. Who is June's daughter?

4. What secret did Maya confide to Georgia?

5. When Maya has affairs now she ________________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Georgia meet Maya and Raymond as well as Hilda and Harvey? What secret does Georgia learn about the marriages of these two couples?

2. Who are June (Bugs) and Averill and what are they doing as the story begins?

3. What does Jeanine admit to Averill about her personal life?

4. What was Joan Fordyce's childhood like as explained in the first part of the story?

5. What does an older and divorced Joan learn about Matilda when she returns home to tend to her mother's grave?

6. Why had Teresa come to Canada and what troubles has she had in her marriage to Reuel?

7. Who is Georgia, where has she traveled to at the beginning of the story, and who does she meet right away?

8. Give some examples of how the author uses the theme of escape in this story.

9. How does Joan's hometown of Logan contribute to people's needs to fit in and not be too distinctive?

10. How did Margot get even with Reuel after his affair with their babysitter and manage to get all the things she had ever wanted in life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of disappointment. Identify at least two characters in the stories who either embody or experience disappointment then cite an example to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

The frustration of unfulfilled affection touches several characters in the stories. Name at least two characters who experience unfulfilled love and the situations that occur as a result.

Essay Topic 3

Alice Munro is a master at dramatic devices. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphor, and irony, briefly describe them and identify the technique which they embody.

(see the answer keys)

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