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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. At the beginning of Chapter 17, what time is Elizabeth pacing the floor with her screaming baby?

2. What did Elizabeth once do for a living?

3. In Chapter 11, what type of vehicle hits Calvin?

4. How far do Elizabeth and Six-Thirty walk to the library in Chapter 16?

5. Where did Calvin do his undergrad?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Elizabeth figure out how to row?

2. In Chapter 10, what is the only time that Six-Thirty bolts when walking?

3. What is Calvin buried in and why?

4. How does Elizabeth learn that she is pregnant?

5. Who is Harriet Sloane, and how do she and Elizabeth meet?

6. Why does Calvin decide to jog to work in Chapter 10?

7. How do Elizabeth and Calvin get a dog, and how does he happen to be a stray?

8. How does Calvin get injured in Chapter 11?

9. Why does Harriet hope that Elizabeth will call her to help with Madeline?

10. What is the "Do More with Less" initiative at the police department, and how do the police cope?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the novel, some characters are more thoroughly described than others. Who are some characters that are merely named in passing or have a minor role in the novel? What is the importance of these flat characters to the storyline? In what way do these characters make the main characters more colorful or interesting? When there is conflict, what type of role do these flat characters play?

Essay Topic 2

Metaphors and similes are figures of speech that are used to make comparisons between things. Metaphors seem to imply an equal comparison, while similes seem to imply a similarity between two things. Does the author use more metaphors or similes in the novel? How does the use of metaphors or similes help readers comprehend concepts? How does the use of metaphors or similes help make the writing more interesting?

Essay Topic 3

Elizabeth grieves after Calvin’s death. What stages of grief does she experience? How does she come to accept Calvin’s death?

(see the answer keys)

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