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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 Donald allow Mary to do in the prologue to the book?

2. What is the name originally given to schizophrenia, as discussed in Chapter 2?

3. According to the narrator in Chapter 12, every member of the Galvin family operates in a world without what?

4. To what maximum-security hospital is Michael sent in Chapter 13?

5. Where was Mimi born, as revealed in Chapter 1?

Short Essay Questions

1. To whom does Mimi break down in Chapter 17? What is the result?

2. How does Michael feel about his family upon returning home in Chapter 21?

3. What happens during Thanksgiving in Chapter 15?

4. Who is David Rosenthal and what influential work did he publish, as explained in Chapter 9?

5. What happens to Don Galvin in Chapter 17?

6. What happens as Margaret goes to live with the Garys in Chapter 20?

7. What happens to Don Galvin while stationed in Canada, as explained in Chapter 5?

8. What hobby do the Galvins enjoy, as discussed in Chapter 1? What draws them to this hobby?

9. Who is Marilee? How does she reflect Donald’s increasing instability in Chapter 7?

10. What happens to Donald’s marriage to Jean in Chapter 10? What is the result?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What role does religion play in Hidden Valley Road? How does religion help the members of the Galvin family, and how does it hurt them?

Essay Topic 2

How does Hidden Valley Road illustrate the role of shame and secrecy? Use textual evidence to support your analysis.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing how the author uses individuals and behaviors to develop and strengthen the theme of trauma and its aftermath.

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