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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. Why does the Detective think he needs therapy?

2. Where is Mark when his wife calls and says she knows about his affair?

3. What color hair does Vera have?

4. What recipe did Rachel's mother like to make for her New Year's Day party?

5. What does Rachel say her contractor forgot to put on their West Virginia property?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Detective Nolan question Rachel about being in therapy?

2. How does Rachel discover her husband is having an affair?

3. What does Rachel imagine her mother would say about Mark's affair?

4. Describe Vera's physical appearance.

5. What happens when Rachel discovers Mark's affair?

6. What kind of details does Jonathan relate to Rachel about Mark and Thelma's relationship?

7. Why does Harry order a lot of stationery?

8. How did Rachel get a cooking show on television?

9. Does Rachel know the woman her husband is having an affair with?

10. What were Mark and Thelma doing the day that Thelma wrote an inscription in a child's song book to signify the importance of the day?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Rachel's strengths and weaknesses as a character. Do you think she will weather the end of her marriage to Mark and get back on her feet? Why do you think so? Provide specific examples to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

What role does food play in this novel? How is it important to Rachel's life and marriage? Why does Rachel provide recipes as she tells the story of her marriage breaking up? Do the recipes add to the story? Explain why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

How does Rachel end her marriage to Mark? What loose ends does she tie up at home with Mark before she leaves? What plans does she make for her immediate future?

(see the answer keys)

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